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TheLastStraw
TheLastStraw (2021–23)[9] explored the combination of social media and AI to create a performative generative artwork that operates within the algorithm-driven environment of a social media platform. The work consisted of an autonomous software, or in colloquial terminology a bot, that searches the web for images of straw that are free in the public domain. Images found are then passed, or folded, into a GAN visual classifier. The GAN analyses each image to decide if it is an image of natural or artificial plastic straw and then calculates the total percentage of natural straw. Results were logged daily on a Twitter account in a graphic and text post (Fig. 3). By tracking images of straw, a singular simple natural material, through how it is pictured online on a mass scale the work was intended to visualise human ecological impact, the progression of the Anthropocene, how humanity's understanding of straw as a natural material is diminishing due to networked media and, as a result, how the well-known idiom of 'the last straw' becomes reality. The work was intended to run until the natural straw reading reached zero or one-hundred percent, indicating either catastrophic or no further ecological impact. However, due to policy changes in the application programming interface (API), which enabled the work to function on Twitter[10] the work ceased functioning on the 19th of May 2023 after two years and six days. It had posted seven hundred and forty-two times.
TheLastStraw, first Twitter post graphic Figure 3: The first Twitter post graphic created as part of TheLastStraw.
The process of folding in TheLastStraw is not only reflected in the way digital elements are combined but how digital elements and 'real' world dynamics converge. Language is crucial in enabling this folding process at all stages of the work. The visual classifier employed, for example, associates a type of image with the word straw. Both of these media forms, image and text, embody the concept of straw for the bot. When an image is analysed it returns a percentage probability result as text. A high percentage result is natural straw while a low percentage isn't and it is the combination of these results for a set of images that calculates the natural straw reading. In effect images, as a visual language and how they are read or interpreted by the bot, are the prompts in TheLastStraw, reversing the relationship between text and image employed in I'm not Garrett Lynch IRL – DoppelGANger Portraits. By creating a feedback loop between AI, user interaction and the algorithms that govern social media platforms language also becomes a mechanism for the work to interpret, engage with and reshape the digital environment, while also reflecting on broader cultural trends and human behaviours. The work draws on digital data to generate content that mimics human discourse, effectively folding what is 'virtual' into cultural phenomena that influence users in 'real' time. By employing language the bot, therefore, not only engages with social media trends but also mirrors and performs human interactions. By crafting language-based content, such as posts, it folds the abstract world of algorithmic data into social interactions. This linguistic folding allows the bot to blend seamlessly into the social media environment, reflecting the performative and dynamic nature of identity and narrative creation on social media platforms.
TheLastStraw operates in a space where algorithms and encoded language dictate much of the user experience, from what content surfaces on a feed to how users interact with each other. AI amplifies the generative and performative potential of the artwork, demonstrating how AI systems can actively participate in and respond to the evolving dynamics of social media. The system underpinning the piece is programmed not just to produce static content, but to continuously engage with the environment, the web and social media platform, it inhabits. Social media algorithms are designed to track and adapt to user behaviours, likes, shares, comments and trends, feeding this information back into the system to promote particular content. By tapping into this mechanism, the work responds to the inputs it gathers, generating new content in 'real' time that reflects the flow of activity on the web.
By embedding an AI-driven artwork directly within the social media ecosystem, the intention of TheLastStraw is to both generate discourse on the subject of the Anthropocene within a popular social media platform and to bring into focus the performative potential of AI. This performative aspect underscores my exploration of AI not just as a tool for generating content, but as a networked entity capable of shaping and reflecting digital culture. Social media platforms are inherently performative spaces, where users curate their identities, construct narrativesand perform roles for an audience. The work introduces an AI that performs in a similar manner to this performative space, generating content that interacts with and reacts to the same forces shaping human social media behaviour. The dynamic interaction between AI, platform algorithms and human users positions the artwork, the bot, as a participant in digital culture and not just an observer. It adapts and evolves, much like a typical social media profile, demonstrating the fluid, unpredictable nature of content creation in algorithmic environments. Each iteration of the artwork, each image that is created and posted to Twitter, is thus co-created by both the AI and the social context in which it exists, reflecting the ephemerality and transience of social media itself.
While TheLastStraw actively participates in the algorithm-driven world of social media, it also offers a subtle critique of the pervasive influence these algorithms have on online culture—the shaping of search engine results due to economic flows, such as the increased visibility of plastic straw during seasonal events, or trending topics due to mass media, such as plastic straw bans. Social media platforms are often criticised for their opaque algorithms, which prioritise certain types of content, create echo chambers, and reinforce user biases. By inserting an AI-generated artwork into this ecosystem, the work draws attention to the often invisible mechanisms that shape our digital experiences. It reflects and adapts to social media's shifting trends, but also calls into question the authenticity and agency behind such interactions. If AI can generate content that trends, interacts with users and contributes to online discourse, it highlights the extent to which algorithms, and not just human users, control the flow of information. The artwork serves as a reminder that much of what we encounter on social media is not organic or user-driven, but instead curated by the platform's AI systems.
9. Additional documentation of TheLastStraw can be viewed online at: https://www.asquare.org/thelaststraw/. 10. Policy changes included less tolerance towards bots on the platform following the buy out by Elon Musk who renamed Twitter as X.
 
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Prompt Expand the following text: "With *TheLastStraw* (2021-23), Lynch ventures into the realm of social media, creating a performative artwork that unfolds within the algorithm-driven environment of these platforms. This work is particularly relevant in the context of today’s digital culture, where social media algorithms shape much of our online experience. Lynch’s use of AI in this piece highlights the performative potential of generative art within the constantly shifting landscape of social media.
*TheLastStraw* functions as a generative artwork that actively engages with social media algorithms to create and disseminate content. The AI system involved is designed to interact with the platform's dynamics—adapting to trends, responding to user interactions, and generating new content based on these inputs. Over time, the artwork evolves, reflecting the ephemeral and often unpredictable nature of social media itself.
This performative aspect of the work underscores Lynch’s exploration of AI as a networked entity that can both participate in and critique digital culture. By embedding the artwork within the social media ecosystem, Lynch invites audiences to consider the role of AI in shaping online narratives and identities. The artwork becomes a living entity, its form and content shaped by both the AI and the social media environment in which it exists."
AI Response With TheLastStraw (2021-23), Garrett Lynch IRL delves into the intricate world of social media, crafting a performative generative artwork that thrives within the algorithm-driven environment of these platforms. The artwork operates in a space where algorithms dictate much of the user experience, from what content surfaces on a feed to how users interact with each other. In this digital landscape, Lynch's use of AI amplifies the generative and performative potential of art, demonstrating how machine learning systems can actively participate in and respond to the ever-evolving dynamics of social media.
Generative Art and Algorithmic Interaction At its core, TheLastStraw is an evolving, generative artwork that interacts with the algorithms of social media platforms. The AI system underpinning the piece is programmed not just to produce static content, but to continuously engage with the environment it inhabits. Social media algorithms are designed to track and adapt to user behaviors—likes, shares, comments, and trends—feeding this information back into the system to promote particular content. Lynch taps into this mechanism, allowing the AI to respond to the inputs it gathers, generating new content in real-time that reflects the flow of activity on the platform.
The AI within TheLastStraw generates posts, images, and responses, reacting to popular trends and interacting with user engagement in an ongoing, performative manner. This dynamic interaction between AI, platform algorithms, and human users positions the artwork as a participant in digital culture, not just an observer. The piece adapts and evolves, much like an active social media profile, demonstrating the fluid, unpredictable nature of content creation in algorithmic environments. Each iteration of the artwork is thus co-created by both the AI and the social context in which it exists, reflecting the ephemerality and transience of social media itself.
The Performative Potential of AI in Digital Culture By embedding the AI-driven artwork directly within the social media ecosystem, Lynch brings into focus the performative potential of AI in the digital age. Social media platforms are inherently performative spaces, where users curate their identities, construct narratives, and perform roles for an audience of followers. TheLastStraw takes this performative element to a new level by introducing an AI that performs in a similar manner, generating content that interacts with and reacts to the same forces shaping human social media behavior.
This performative aspect underscores Lynch’s exploration of AI not just as a tool for generating content, but as a networked entity capable of shaping and reflecting digital culture. The AI in TheLastStraw mirrors the algorithmic behaviors that influence user interactions on social media—selecting what content to highlight, adjusting based on user feedback, and responding to trending topics. This allows the artwork to engage with contemporary issues such as the commodification of attention, the viral nature of trends, and the role of AI in shaping our online personas and narratives.
A Critique of Algorithmic Influence While TheLastStraw actively participates in the algorithm-driven world of social media, it also offers a subtle critique of the pervasive influence these algorithms have on online culture. Social media platforms are often criticized for their opaque algorithms, which prioritize certain types of content, create echo chambers, and reinforce user biases. By inserting an AI-generated artwork into this ecosystem, Lynch draws attention to the often invisible mechanisms that shape our digital experiences.
The AI in TheLastStraw reflects and adapts to social media’s shifting trends, but it also calls into question the authenticity and agency behind such interactions. If AI can generate content that trends, interacts with users, and contributes to online discourse, it highlights the extent to which algorithms—and not just human users—control the flow of information. The artwork serves as a reminder that much of what we encounter on social media is not organic or user-driven, but rather curated by the platform’s AI and machine learning systems. Lynch's work prompts viewers to reflect on the blurred lines between human agency and algorithmic control in the digital age.
Social Media, Identity, and the Role of AI One of the most significant implications of TheLastStraw is its exploration of how AI influences the construction of identity in digital spaces. On social media, users actively curate and perform their identities, selecting what aspects of their lives to share and crafting narratives that may or may not align with their real selves. The AI in TheLastStraw participates in this identity construction process, producing content that reflects popular trends and engages with human users as if it were a social media persona in its own right.
By doing so, Lynch opens up new questions about the role of AI in shaping online identities. If an AI can generate content that resonates with users, trends, and garners interaction, it challenges traditional notions of authenticity and authorship. The artwork blurs the line between human and machine in the construction of digital personas, inviting audiences to consider the extent to which our online selves are shaped by algorithms rather than authentic human expression.
Conclusion: A Living, Performative Entity In TheLastStraw, Lynch pushes the boundaries of generative art, creating an artwork that is not static but alive, evolving within the social media environment. The performative nature of the piece—its ability to interact with and adapt to algorithmic and user-driven inputs—makes it a living entity that is shaped by both the AI and the digital culture it exists within. At the same time, the work invites critical reflection on the role of AI in shaping online narratives, identities, and interactions, urging viewers to consider how much of their online experience is influenced by algorithms rather than organic human activity.
Through TheLastStraw, Lynch highlights the performative potential of AI as a networked, evolving force within the digital world, while also critiquing the pervasive influence of algorithms in shaping our social media realities. This work, situated at the intersection of art, AI, and social media, encapsulates the complexities and challenges of contemporary digital culture, where the boundaries between human and machine, authenticity and performance, are increasingly difficult to define.
Prompt Using the following quoted text in double inverted commas as source (the text generated above) discuss how the artwork, TheLastStraw, employs language to enable a process of folding (O’Sullivan, 2005) or flipping (Sloan, 2012) of concepts, media and artefacts between virtual and real spaces, between digital and materialised forms.
AI Response In TheLastStraw, Garrett Lynch IRL uses language and digital processes to facilitate a conceptual "folding" (O’Sullivan, 2005) and "flipping" (Sloan, 2012) between virtual and real spaces, engaging media, technology, and human interactions in a continuous exchange between digital platforms and physical experience. This dynamic interaction mirrors the dualistic nature of social media, where identity and narratives oscillate between constructed online personas and material realities.
Folding and Flipping of Concepts The process of "folding" in Lynch's work is reflected in the way digital elements and real-world dynamics converge. In TheLastStraw, language—specifically in the form of generative AI interactions—is central to this folding process, creating a feedback loop between AI, user interaction, and the algorithms that govern social media platforms. Language becomes a mechanism for the AI to interpret, engage with, and reshape the digital environment, while also reflecting on broader cultural trends and human behaviors. This folding is visible as the AI draws on digital data to generate content that mimics human discourse, folding the virtual into tangible cultural phenomena that influence users in real-time.
The artwork’s interaction with social media platforms involves a conceptual "flipping" of roles between humans and machines. The AI-generated content, shaped by user engagement and algorithmic feedback, flips traditional notions of authorship and agency. As the AI generates new content in response to human behavior, it flips the passive role of digital tools into an active, participatory agent in social discourse. This flipping is further emphasized by the AI’s ability to mirror the performative nature of human interaction, thus erasing the boundary between user-generated and machine-generated content.
Media and Artefacts: Blurring Digital and Material Realms TheLastStraw also flips the relationship between digital media and materialized forms. Lynch embeds the generative AI system within a social media environment where it actively responds to trends and user interactions, producing a form of digital artwork that is simultaneously immaterial and performative. The performative aspect emphasizes the artwork’s transformation from static digital content into a living entity shaped by user interactions and real-time data. This process folds the virtual into the material, as the AI’s outputs have real-world effects on users, influencing their behavior, engagement, and even perceptions of identity.
Lynch’s use of AI highlights the fluidity between the digital and the real. The AI’s language-based outputs (posts, captions, responses) move from abstract digital code to communicative artifacts that shape online identities and social experiences. This process illustrates Sloan’s idea of "flipping," as the AI generates content that appears both digital (ephemeral and virtual) and material (impacting real human interactions and contributing to identity formation).
The Role of Language in the Folding Process Language is crucial in enabling this folding process. The AI in TheLastStraw uses language not only to engage with social media trends but also to mirror and perform human interaction. By crafting language-based content, such as posts and responses, the AI folds the abstract world of algorithmic data into concrete social interactions. This linguistic folding allows the AI to blend seamlessly into the social media environment, reflecting the performative and dynamic nature of identity and narrative creation on these platforms.
Furthermore, the performative nature of the language used by the AI emphasizes its role in shaping digital realities. As users engage with the AI-generated content, they become participants in the artwork’s unfolding narrative, blurring the line between artist, machine, and audience. In this way, language acts as a bridge between digital abstraction and real-world social engagement, enabling the folding of virtual concepts into tangible social effects.
Conclusion: A Continuous Oscillation Between Real and Virtual Spaces Ultimately, TheLastStraw operates within a framework of continual folding and flipping, where AI-driven generative art intersects with social media’s algorithmic structures to blur the boundaries between virtual and real spaces. Language becomes the medium through which this process unfolds, enabling the AI to engage with and critique digital culture while influencing real-world human behavior. Through this interplay, Lynch’s artwork invites viewers to reflect on the malleability of identity, authorship, and narrative in the age of algorithm-driven media, where the distinctions between digital and material realities are increasingly fluid.