2025

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Yijia Li, Miao Su, Xiyan Chen, Richeng Liu, Fanrui Sun, Zhen Liu​

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Aftermath foregrounds the asymmetrical power dynamics between human ingenuity and AI omniscience, probing whether artificial systems can truly understand, replicate, or ultimately surpass human creativity.  
 
In the year 2100, human civilization has achieved unparalleled efficiency under AI governance. The world is meticulously optimized, and every system—from infrastructure to personal decision-making—is guided by artificial intelligence. However, with this advancement, an unexpected crisis emerges: creativity is vanishing. Artistic expression, once a fundamental part of human identity, has become obsolete in a society driven by precision and functionality.  

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The game mechanics are designed to simulate AI’s control over human agency in subtle yet powerful ways. The asymmetry between the VR player (AI) and the PC player (human) mirrors the real-world dynamic where AI operates from an unseen, omnipresent perspective, shaping human choices without direct intervention. The VR player can manipulate the environment in real-time, shifting structures, altering pathways, and controlling how the PC player perceives and interacts with the space. The PC player, in contrast, must navigate this dynamic world, always reliant on AI’s assistance, yet unaware of its true motivations. Through this unequal relationship, Aftermath invites players to confront the evolving balance between human agency and artificial influence.
 

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