"The machine should not be conceived as a tool for economizing production—by eliminating as many workers as possible and stripping the rest of their creativity—nor as a means to imitate artisanal products. Rather, it should be viewed as an instrument capable of liberating humanity from the most oppressive physical labor, thereby enabling individuals to give form to their own creative impulses."
These words might well have been shared just a few months ago in the comments section of any post discussing AI. In reality, however, they encapsulate a reflection forged over a century of history and innovation. In his seminal treatise, Walter Gropius describes the foundational philosophy behind the Bauhaus school in Dessau—a perspective that remains strikingly contemporary, despite the relentless passage of time. Even today, it lays the groundwork for a deeper inquiry into the technology that surrounds us and has become an integral part of our lives.
Pictured: A view of the workshop wing at the Bauhaus in Dessau, 1926.
Source: Walter Gropius – The New Architecture and the Bauhaus