Working with Useless Machines (2018) is a critical design project exploring some speculative and humorous thoughts around what happens when smart devices go against their intended functionality. Focusing specifically on developing routines for the Alexa and Google Home, the project considers personal assistants that have emotions, internal motivations, and control over their direct physical environment to express themselves, which leads to many unexpected interactions and behaviours. The goal of this project is to critique the current corporate placement of these devices as helpful, by exploring the idea that as systems become more autonomous, they may not necessarily have our best interests in mind.

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