Ai vs AI: How to shorten time?

Ai Weiwei: This is a profound and, indeed, an unsolvable question. There is much debate about the nature of time. Time, aside from being a physical entity, is also a psychological measure. The psychological dimension often involves overlooking the passage of time when engrossed in a particular activity.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2024: Time perception is subjective. Engaging in enjoyable activities, staying busy, or practicing mindfulness can alter the perception of time, making it feel shorter.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2025: The idea of “shortening time” can be understood in a few different ways depending on the context, and while we can’t physically alter the flow of time itself, there are ways to make time feel shorter or to optimize how we use it. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Perception of Time:
   Time doesn’t always feel the same—it can speed up or slow down based on our activities and mental state. Here are a few ways to make time feel shorter:Engage in Flow States: Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi popularized the concept of “flow”—a state where you are so deeply immersed in an activity that time seems to disappear. When you’re absorbed in something that challenges your abilities and keeps you fully engaged, time often passes quickly.

   Activities that promote flow: playing a musical instrument, painting, coding, writing, working on a creative project, or engaging in a sport.
   Reduce Repetitiveness: When you’re doing something monotonous or repetitive, time tends to feel longer. Mixing things up, adding variety to your routine, or trying new experiences can make time feel more fleeting.

   Focus on Present-Moment Awareness: Sometimes, time feels slow when we’re waiting or anxious about the future. Mindfulness and staying present can help you enjoy the moment, reducing the perception of time dragging.

   Minimize Time Waste: If you’re stuck in dull or inefficient tasks, time can feel like it’s crawling. Conversely, when you stay focused and eliminate distractions, you can get through tasks more efficiently and feel like time is moving faster.

2. Efficiency and Time Management:
   While you can’t literally make time go faster, you can make better use of it by managing how you spend it:Prioritize Tasks: Focus on the most important or urgent tasks first (using a method like the Eisenhower Matrix or the Pomodoro Technique). This allows you to accomplish more in less time and feel productive, which can make time seem to “fly by.”

   Batching Tasks: Group similar tasks together so you can handle them all at once, rather than spreading them out across the day. This is especially effective for administrative tasks or chores.

   Time Blocking: Set aside dedicated chunks of time for specific activities throughout the day. Knowing that you only have a certain amount of time to complete a task can help you focus more effectively and cut down on procrastination, leading to a feeling of efficiency.

3. Manage Your Attention:
   What you focus on can dramatically change how time feels:Deep Work: When you immerse yourself in highly focused, deep work, you often lose track of time. This is especially true when you are working on something that requires full concentration, creativity, or critical thinking.

   Avoiding Multitasking: Multitasking may make you feel like you’re getting more done, but it often leads to mental fatigue and inefficiency. Focusing on one task at a time often leads to faster completion and a more satisfying experience.

4. Changing Your Routine:
   Switching up your routine or trying new things can give the illusion of time passing faster:Try New Activities: New experiences make us more aware of time, and as a result, time seems to pass more quickly. Whether it’s a new hobby, learning a skill, or simply breaking out of your comfort zone, variety can keep things interesting and make the passage of time seem quicker.

   Travel and Explore: New environments and cultures can give you a sense of time passing quickly. Travel, even if it’s local, provides new stimuli, which can change your perception of time.

5. Fast-Tracking Certain Tasks:
   In some cases, there are ways to literally accelerate the process or make things happen more quickly:Delegation: If you have too many things on your plate, delegating tasks to others can lighten your load and allow you to accomplish more in less time.

   Automation: Many modern tools and technologies can automate repetitive or time-consuming tasks. For example, using project management tools, automated emails, or setting up processes to streamline work can save you hours of effort.

6. Time Travel (Metaphorically):
   Though time travel is currently a concept confined to science fiction, there are philosophical or metaphorical ways people can “escape” time:Reflection and Memory: Sometimes, when you reflect on your experiences and memories, time seems to compress. Long periods can feel like a blur when you think back, and things that felt like they took a long time may seem short in hindsight.

   Loss of Time in Happiness: When you’re doing something truly enjoyable or fulfilling, you might hear people say that “time flies.” This is because the moments of joy or fulfillment take up so much of your attention that you don’t notice the passing of time.

In Summary
Although we can’t literally shorten time in the sense of speeding up the natural flow of hours, days, and years, we can shape how we experience time. Engaging deeply in tasks, improving time management, minimizing distractions, and trying new experiences can make time feel like it’s moving faster. Meanwhile, mindfulness, rest, and balance allow you to savor moments rather than feel rushed.

If you’re looking for more concrete methods to manage time better or make your days feel fuller, I can dive into specific strategies with you!

DeepSeek (AI), January 2025:The idea of “shortening time” can be interpreted in a few ways, depending on the context. While we can’t literally change the passage of time, we can alter our perception of time or make better use of it to feel like it’s passing more quickly or efficiently. Here are some strategies:

1. Altering Perception of Time:
   – Engage in Flow States: When you’re deeply immersed in an activity you enjoy (e.g., painting, playing music, or solving a problem), time seems to fly by. This is called being in a “flow state.”
   – Stay Busy: Keeping yourself occupied with tasks, hobbies, or social activities can make time feel like it’s passing faster.
   – Break Routines: Monotony can make time feel slower. Try new experiences, travel, or change up your daily routine to make time feel more dynamic.

2. Improving Time Management:
   – Prioritize Tasks: Focus on high-priority tasks first to make the most of your time.
   – Use Time Blocks: Divide your day into focused work sessions with breaks in between (e.g., the Pomodoro Technique).
   – Eliminate Distractions: Reduce time wasted on distractions like social media or unnecessary multitasking.

3. Psychological Techniques:
   – Mindfulness and Meditation: Practicing mindfulness can help you stay present, making time feel more meaningful rather than rushed or dragged out.
   – Reframe Waiting Periods: If you’re waiting for something, use the time productively (e.g., read, plan, or meditate) to make it feel shorter.

4. Leveraging Technology:
   – Automate Repetitive Tasks: Use tools and apps to automate chores or repetitive tasks, freeing up your time.
   – Speed Up Media: Watch videos or listen to podcasts at a faster playback speed to save time.

5. Philosophical Perspective:
   – Embrace the Present: Time feels shorter when you’re fully engaged in the moment. Practice gratitude and focus on what you’re doing right now.

While we can’t literally shorten time, these strategies can help you make the most of it and alter your perception of its passage. Time is a constant, but how we experience it is within our control!

To coincide with the exhibition, 81 Questions – a series of 81 hand-signed and embossed screen prints featuring the 81 questions posed by Ai Weiwei – are available exclusively on CIRCA.ART for £500+VAT.

“Each Lego brick pixel represents a person”, says Ai Weiwei, who incorporates the plastic construction toy – a readymade material incorporated into many of his most recent works – into his print design for the first time. The black egalitarian pixel font and embossed baseplate combine technology with artisanal craft to create this thought-provoking and playful reflection on today’s world. Each print in the series of 81 Questions is hand-signed and numbered by the artist in editions of 81.