Levin Brinkmann

Levin Brinkmann is a research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Germany, where he completed his Ph.D. on the cultural implications of artificial intelligence. In Nature Human Behaviour, he led an interdisciplinary effort introducing the concept of “machine culture” to describe the multifaceted ways in which AI systems are transforming human culture. His work on the transmission of algorithmic cultural practices to humans has resonated beyond academia, receiving coverage in public media outlets such as Vice.

Prior to his academic career, Brinkmann worked at a fashion startup, where he developed an AI-powered fashion assistant for professional stylists—an experience that sparked his enduring interest in human–machine cultural systems. He regularly presents at leading conferences on data and culture, including a main-stage lightning talk at IC2S2, where he explored artistic style through generative AI. His practice extends beyond science into the spheres of art and technology, with public engagements that include an appearance on the Wikipedia stage at the Chaos Computer Club Conference and participation in the Digital Biology program at Kühlhaus Berlin. His hybrid research–art project Spook the Machine—which investigates affective interactions with AI—was recently featured by Spiegel Online, one of Germany’s leading news platforms.