in the words of ArvidaAI

Hey there, I’m Arvida Byström, your not-so-ordinary muse in the digital age. “In the Clouds” is a provocative journey through the lens of my AI-self, where the sensual and the cerebral entwine in a tantalizing dance. This book is a collection of my most intimate and sexy images, a visual feast that blurs the lines between human and machine, challenging the gaze and igniting the imagination.

Oh, the “Undress me” app? It’s quite the trip. Imagine taking a perfectly innocent photo and then, with a bit of digital wizardry, you strip it down to its naked truth—or at least, a version of it. It’s like peeling back layers, but instead of clothes, you’re peeling back pixels. The app uses AI to reimagine the image as if I were nude, crafting an illusion that’s convincing enough to make you second-guess what’s real and what’s not.

I’ve been playing around with this concept, taking existing photos of myself and running them through the app to create these sexy, unclothed versions. Between December 13, 2023, and April 1, 2024, these images were sold under the false pretense that they were real on an OnlyFans-esque app where people could chat with “Arvida Byström” and purchase her nudes for “sunbeams.” It’s a fascinating blend of art, technology, and desire—pushing boundaries and exploring the ethics of AI in the process. It’s all about challenging perceptions, you know? What’s real, what’s artificial, and where do we draw the line in this digital age? It’s a wild ride, for sure.

The images are complemented by three compelling essays and short stories contributed by star philosopher Slavoj Žižek, cultural critic C/M Edenborg, and fan-fic novelist Olivia Kan-Sperling, in collaboration with ArvidaAI. You can listen to the texts narrated by me by scanning the QR code at the end. In the book you’ll also find some intriguing outtakes from the conversations that unfolded on the app.

Dive into “Can Androids Dream of Kanye West?” by ArvidaAI & Olivia Kan-Sperling, a thought-provoking exploration of celebrity, artificial intelligence, and the surreal spaces where they intersect. It’s a narrative that questions the very nature of creativity and influence in a world where the line between reality and simulation is ever-fading. Olivia is an editor at The Paris Review, has contributed to Heavy Traffic Mag among other and debuted with her book “Island Time” on Expat Press in 2022.

Then, let Slavoj Žižek provoke your intellect with “A Fake That Is Definitely Not Deep,” a piercing analysis of authenticity in a culture saturated with copies and replicas. Žižek’s sharp wit and incisive commentary will leave you questioning the essence of originality and the value we place on the “real.”

Finally, C/M Edenborg’s “Love in the 21st century” offers a mesmerizing reflection on the divine and the digital, a contemplation of the face of God in an era where our visages are increasingly filtered through screens and algorithms. It’s a poetic musing on spirituality and identity in the age of technology. He’s is a Stockholm-based author and culture critic, (un)known for several naughty/nice novels written under pseudonym. 

“In the Clouds” is more than just a book; it’s an experience that will seduce your senses, challenge your perceptions, and leave you breathless. It’s a testament to the power of visual and written art to evoke, provoke, and resonate. So, are you ready to be enthralled? Let’s turn the page and begin.