Telling Stories With Our Eyes: MIT Media Lab’s Critical Matter Group Explores the Intersection of AI, Design, and Humanity

As the MIT Media Lab celebrates its 40th anniversary, one of its most compelling new initiatives is the Critical Matter Group, led by Behnaz Farahi. This interdisciplinary project explores the intersection of technology, design, and social sciences, aiming to bring deeper human meaning to innovation.

The group’s mission is clear: to look at materials, design, and technology with a critical lens—prioritizing human experience over mere market-driven advancements.

"We want to explore the future of design and technology in a critical way—to support imaginations, enhance perceptions, and give voice to those who have not been heard," the group states on its website.

Gaze to the Stars: A Storytelling Experiment with AI

One of the group’s most ambitious projects, Gaze to the Stars, showcased this vision in action. The event, held from March 12-14, combined AI, storytelling, and real-time human interaction.

Participants shared personal stories, which were transcribed and projected onto the iconic MIT dome—woven into a visual representation of their eye movements captured by sensors.

“We always look at the sky, gazing at the stars, and dreaming about our future,” Farahi said in a recent TED talk. “This project is about sharing voices that usually haven't been heard—within MIT and beyond.”

This blend of technology and human expression underscores the Critical Matter Group’s core philosophy: using design and AI to amplify human emotion, identity, and social connection.

Beyond the Tech Hype: A Human-Centered Approach to Innovation

Farahi is clear about the group’s stance—technology shouldn't be fetishized for its own sake. She critiques the “shiny object” approach in design, where technological advancements are celebrated without considering who benefits and why.

“A lot of times, design fails to answer: ‘For what and for whom?’” she explained. “We want to create work that engages with critical issues—social, cultural, and environmental.”

This ethos extends to broader themes, including feminism, embodiment, and emotional intelligence in design—challenging traditional notions of innovation that prioritize efficiency over meaning.

Farahi’s Journey: Bridging Fashion, Art, and AI

Before joining MIT Media Lab, Farahi worked at USC’s film school and earned a PhD in Los Angeles. She describes herself as existing between disciplines—not strictly a fashion designer, architect, or kinetic artist, but someone drawn to the fusion of science, technology, and art.

Her previous work includes interactive garments that challenge power dynamics, like technologically enhanced niqabs that respond to gaze. These projects align with the Media Lab’s spirit of experimentation—blurring boundaries between human expression and machine intelligence.

A Balanced View on AI’s Future

Asked whether she sees AI as a force for good or dystopian threat, Farahi embraces nuance over absolutes.

“People say ‘AI is amazing’ or ‘AI is horrible.’ But the real question is: In what context? How and why? When we ask those questions, we can truly understand its impact.”

As the MIT Media Lab enters its fifth decade, the Critical Matter Group offers a refreshing take—one that prioritizes storytelling, identity, and human-centered design in the age of AI.

Their work invites us to gaze beyond the stars—not just for answers, but for the right questions.