A new immersive exhibition recreating the Amazon rainforest through artificial intelligence opened on June 20 at Dataland, a museum in Los Angeles. Titled "Machine Dreams: Rainforest," the installation uses real-time data from its visitors to generate a continually evolving digital experience designed to evoke the sights, sounds, and sensations of the Amazon, while encouraging reflection on nature and technology.

The project is the brainchild of artist Refik Anadol and computer scientist Efsun Erkilic, who developed the underlying system using roughly 10 million lines of code and 1.5 billion pixels to render dynamic animations. Anadol said the inspiration for the exhibition came from a personal visit to the Brazilian Amazon, a natural environment he hopes to bring to those unable to experience it firsthand. "Can the rainforest come to us?" he posed, emphasizing the aim to foster connection and respect for nature without the ecological impact of physical travel.

Visitors to the exhibit wear medical-grade wrist devices that monitor heart rate, skin temperature, and emotional responses, while wall-mounted sensors track movement within the space. This biometric data feeds into the AI system, which synthesizes billions of images and data points to produce an interactive environment that shifts continuously. Erkilic described the system as "dreaming," with each visitor’s input altering the digital landscape and narrative flow in real time.

Complementing the visual and auditory elements, the exhibition includes a portable scent diffuser that releases fragrances mimicking aspects of the rainforest, further enhancing the multisensory experience. At the conclusion of the visit, attendees can obtain personalized souvenirs such as chocolates flavored according to the AI model’s output, or print custom T-shirts and paintings derived from their interactions.

Anadol noted that the AI "forgets" individual visitors after their session, emphasizing the ephemeral and poetic nature of the encounter. Dataland positions itself at the intersection of art, technology, and environmental awareness, striving to present nature through a digital lens while encouraging contemplation about how humans engage with ecosystems in the modern age.