I am Ruggles Bohannon, a technologist and artist. Over the past seven years, my professional journey has revolved around Industry 4.0, focusing on Additive Manufacturing (AM) and integrating data engineering principles through artificial intelligence and machine learning. This passion began with hands-on experimentation using 3D printers for rapid prototyping and crafting functional artwork, which has evolved into a commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies for smarter, more efficient manufacturing processes.

I founded AM LAB, a cloud-based research platform designed to monitor and predict industry trends, anticipate market shifts, and generate actionable insights through automated data analysis. Utilizing a combination of web scraping, data normalization, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and reporting pipelines powered by AI and ML models, AM LAB employs Python, SQL, APIs, Tableau, N8n, and Google Cloud to extract meaningful patterns, develop predictive frameworks, and deliver targeted solutions tailored to private-sector needs.

Parallel to my professional expertise is an enduring fascination with the tension between traditional craftsmanship and technological innovation—a classic conundrum faced by artists and technologists alike. My artwork embodies this tension and seeks to explore its boundaries through tangible, creative experiments. I work across a wide array of physical mediums, including glass casting, lost wax casting, silversmithing, goldsmithing, oil painting, and block printing. I am also experienced in welding (MIG, TIG, and stick) and metal fabrication. These disciplines anchor my understanding of material, form, and process, offering a visceral contrast to the digital tools I use professionally. Each method, weather digital or physical, informs the other, creating a dialogue between time-honored technique and modern machine precision.

In 2018, before the widespread adoption of generative AI technologies like ChatGPT, I conducted an experiment exploring this conflict. I crafted two sculptures, each representing a human hand, but through distinctly contrasting methodologies. The first sculpture utilized the millennia-old technique of lost wax casting, a process deeply embedded in historical craftsmanship. Over several months, I meticulously carved and deposited jewelry wax into an anatomically detailed hand, investing time, attention, and manual skill into every aspect. Cast in bronze and refined entirely by hand, this method resonated with an earthy, elemental quality, connecting me directly and viscerally with the creative act. It demanded patience, craftsmanship, and an intimate dialogue between the artist, materials, and the creative process itself.

Conversely, the second sculpture was entirely developed through digital means. Employing computer-aided design (CAD) software, specifically Autodesk Fusion 360 and Blender, I digitally constructed and refined the hand using advanced meshing and solid modeling techniques. Once completed, I optimized the manufacturing strategy through slicing software (Cura) and produced the sculpture in a single, precise execution on my personal FDM 3D printer. This digital method significantly reduced the barrier to experimentation, offering rapid iteration without the traditional constraints of wasted materials or significant time investment.

This exploration directly confronted the ongoing debate about authenticity and value between handcrafted and digitally manufactured art. It raised fundamental questions about creativity, authenticity, and the essence of value creation, an issue increasingly relevant as artificial intelligence reshapes societal perceptions of human creativity and labor. With AI poised to redefine or eliminate conventional roles, with white-collar middle-management sectors already feeling the pressure, the significance of authentic, human creativity becomes paramount. How do we define authenticity in an era increasingly influenced by manufactured creativity? How does this impact our perception of value, originality, and artistic merit?

Personally, I embrace technological advancement as an empowering force, employing imaging tools, code driven artworks, AI-enhanced CAD plugins, and other innovative technologies to compress the timeframe between a fleeting initial idea and its material realization. As a techno-optimist, I maintain confidence that human creativity and intuition remain unmatched, despite AI’s profound capabilities. I believe AI currently exists as a powerful tool that enhances efficiency rather than surpassing genuine human ingenuity.

However, my stance acknowledges the imminent transition from Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—capable of replicating human cognitive functions, to Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), which would significantly exceed human capabilities. When AI transitions from a mere tool to an autonomous intellect with capabilities exceeding those of humans, our definitions of creativity, authenticity, and artistic identity may fundamentally shift beyond considerations of tool legitimacy. 

My work, therefore, is deeply reflective of this tension, embodying the interplay between historical artistic traditions and the relentless forward march of technological innovation. Through both professional expertise and personal artistic inquiry, I intent to continue to navigate this tension.