ESC Tyranny

Human rights activists often operate with limited funding, technical expertise, and time, while facing increasingly sophisticated authoritarian surveillance and control. Traditional software development is slow, expensive, and inaccessible to many activists who urgently need secure, tailored digital tools. The challenge was to communicate a complex technological shift - AI-assisted “vibe coding” - in a way that is tangible, credible, and empowering. The booth needed to balance inspiration with practicality: demonstrating real-world applications while ensuring accessibility for non-technical audiences. Constraints included simplifying advanced AI concepts, showcasing sensitive use cases responsibly, and creating an engaging format suitable for a public-facing, high-traffic festival environment.

Esc Tyranny is an interactive experience combining storytelling with hands-on creation. Visitors explore the results of real-world vibe-coded software through curated case studies on the tower screens. Then they are then invited to use similar technology to construct an AI prompt to create their own website. Once a website is successfully vibe-coded it appears on the tower and visitors can explore their vibe-coded site. Key milestones in the design process included prototyping the live AI build interface, iterating on the construction of the prompt, and refining the experience to ensure anyone, regardless of their technical ability, could meaningfully participate.

The project demonstrates a paradigm shift in digital empowerment. Socially, it illustrates how AI lowers barriers for activists to create tools. Technologically, it highlights how AI accelerates development timelines from weeks to minutes, reshaping how software is conceived and deployed. Commercially, it signals a broader transformation in software creation, where expertise is augmented rather than replaced. By making this shift tangible to a wide audience, it fosters awareness and builds confidence in AI workflows. Ultimately, it contributes to a more equitable digital landscape where access to powerful tools is no longer limited by resources or technical training.

The installation combines education, interaction, and real-world relevance. Firstly, it showcases vibe-coded tools built by global activists, including secure coordination platforms, AI-assisted investigative websites, and offline encrypted communication systems. These examples ground the experience in authentic use cases, demonstrating immediate impact rather than speculative potential.Secondly it invites users to the live “build-your-own” interaction. Visitors use plain-language prompts to generate functional websites in real time, transforming abstract AI concepts into a direct, personal experience. This moment is designed to shift perception - from passive observer to active creator. When a new website has been successfully generated the LED encased tower gives off a light pulse and the new website appears on one of the tower screens.The experience design prioritizes accessibility and clarity. Interfaces are intentionally simplified, with guided prompts and visual feedback that reveal how AI translates intent into output. Content is structured to move from inspiration (real-world tools) to empowerment (hands-on creation).