Nestled between an elementary school and a public library in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood, the Chat Haus AI coworking exhibit offers a fresh and humorous take on the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and creative work.
Designed by Brooklyn artist Nim Ben-Reuven, Chat Haus looks like a traditional coworking space at first glance — keyboards clacking, phone calls being made, coffee cups perched next to laptops. But look closer: everything inside, from the workers to the computers themselves, is made entirely out of cardboard.
A Coworking Space for AI Chatbots — in Cardboard
The Chat Haus AI coworking exhibit features cardboard robots animated by small motors, tirelessly tapping away at computers. A cheeky sign invites visitors to rent desk space for a “luxurious” $1,999 a month, playfully nodding to the rising costs of modern coworking spaces.
Ben-Reuven created the exhibit as a personal and satirical response to how AI is disrupting the creative industries he works in — particularly graphic design and videography. With freelance opportunities dwindling as companies increasingly turn to AI tools, the artist decided to express his frustration through humor rather than bitterness.
“It was like an expression of frustration in humor, so I wouldn’t get too bitter about the industry changing so quickly and under my nose and not wanting to be a part of the shift,” Ben-Reuven shared with TechCrunch.
A Lighthearted Critique of AI and Creativity
Rather than create an overtly negative piece, Ben-Reuven aimed for a tone that welcomes viewers of all ages and perspectives. As we spoke across the street at Pan Pan Vino Vino, the casual popularity of the exhibit was on full display: millennials snapping pictures, children asking questions, and curious pedestrians lingering to get a closer look.
Ben-Reuven is clear-eyed about the broader state of the world, recognizing that compared to global conflict and trauma, AI’s impact on art feels lighter, almost trivial.
“AI, in terms of the creative world, seems like such a light thing compared to so many of the other, like war, things that are happening in the world and the terror and the trauma that exists,” he said.
Cardboard as Commentary
Cardboard is a familiar material for Ben-Reuven, who previously built a life-size airport terminal replica during graduate school. His “cardboard babies” — the affectionate term he uses for his robots — serve as both a medium and a metaphor.
He sees cardboard’s fragility as symbolic of the superficial quality he perceives in much AI-generated art:
“The impermanence of this cardboard stuff, and the ability for it to collapse under even just a little bit of weight, is how I feel that AI is interacting with the creative industries,” he explained.
Comparing AI art to junk food, he described the immediate satisfaction but ultimate hollowness he feels it offers, similar to how cardboard might look solid but crumbles under pressure.
What’s Next for Chat Haus
Currently installed in the front window of 121 Norman Avenue, the Chat Haus AI coworking exhibit is intended to remain until at least mid-May, while the building awaits renovation permits. Ben-Reuven hopes to eventually relocate the exhibit to a larger gallery space where he can expand the display, though he jokingly worries about storing additional cardboard creations in his apartment if plans fall through.
“I just thought it would be funny to express this idea of a whole bunch of kind of cute, kind of creepy, baby robots typing away because of our ChatGPT prompts in some warehouse somewhere, working non-stop taking as much electricity as Switzerland uses in a year,” Ben-Reuven said.
Until then, Chat Haus stands as a whimsical yet poignant reflection on the intersection of art, technology, and the uncertain future of creativity in the age of AI.
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