How To See Like a Machine: Trevor Paglen

How to See Like a Machine — Trevor Paglen A compelling exploration of how AI is reshaping vision, images and perception. In How to See Like a Machine, artist Trevor Paglen examines the rise of computer vision and generative AI, where images are no longer passive but active systems that interpret, influence and predict. From surveillance infrastructures to synthetic media, he reveals how machine vision is redefining how we see—and how environments are shaped in response. For architects and designers, this is a critical lens on the visual systems underpinning contemporary space, from smart cities to data-driven urbanism. Paglen shifts the question from what images represent to what they do, exposing the hidden infrastructures that increasingly govern perception and behaviour. An essential, thought-provoking read for those engaging with technology, visual culture and the future of the built environment. Publisher: Verso Books Format: Hardback Pages: 192 ISBN: 9781836742166 Publication date: 19 May 2026