Art and technology have always been intertwined. From the earliest cave paintings to the most cutting-edge digital installations, artists have used technology to create and explore new forms of expression. But with the rise of artificial intelligence, the possibilities for creative collaboration between humans and machines are expanding in unprecedented ways.

Art and technology have a unique intersection that has been explored in various fields, ranging from film and music to video games and gambling. With the rise of digital technology, art has found a new medium to explore and experiment with. The world of digital creativity has opened up endless possibilities for artists and creatives, allowing them to push the boundaries of what was previously thought possible. One field where this intersection has had a significant impact is gambling. Gambling has evolved from simple card games to a billion-dollar industry with the rise of online casinos and mobile apps. The gambling industry has been quick to embrace technology, and as a result, we have seen an explosion in the number of games and betting options available.

When she launched the Microwave Video Festival, in 1996, Hong Kong artist and independent curator Ellen Pau had to assure her backers at the city's municipal council that she would avoid the most sophisticated media art from other parts of the world. You can tell from the wording of the original press release, in which she was quoted as saying that the festival would bring "simply produced, yet creative" videos that were "relatable" and "inspiring" to local people. "There was definitely a nervousness about new media and using technology in the arts at the Urban Council," she says. "For the festival to go ahead, I felt it was safer to reassure officials that we wouldn't overwhelm the audience with feats of computing and engineering. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

In recent years, art and technology have been merging together. When thinking of art, it's typical to initially think of things like paintings, sculptures or photography. However, technological advancements have resulted in many artists utilizing technology in their work. Patricia Search is a professor in the Communication department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as well as the Director, Center for Global Communication and Design. George Grossman, attorney at Grossman & Associates, highlights that "the use of electronic databases in the legal profession will increase the number of research materials available to lawyers by providing access to a larger number of court opinions as well as access to other important references, such as statutory or regulatory material and legal comments about court decisions."

This morning, BMO announced that it is making a $5 million investment in a new University of Toronto lab called the BMO Lab for Creative Research in the Arts, Performance, Emerging Technologies, and AI. This is the bank's largest investment in a Canadian post secondary institution to date. The BMO Lab will host high-profile, public artistic events, and aims to create a global network of artists and researchers that combine art and technology. The BMO lab will be housed within the University of Toronto's Centre for Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies. Students from the arts, humanities, sciences, and engineering will be able to explore how AI and other technologies can impact artistic expression.

Dr. Madeline Gannon is a multidisciplinary designer inventing better ways to communicate with machines. In her work, Gannon seeks to blend knowledge from design, robotics, and human-computer interaction to innovate at the intersection of art and technology. Gannon designs her research to engage with wide audiences across scientific and cultural communities: her work has been exhibited at international cultural institutions, published at ACM conferences, and covered by diverse global media outlets. Her 2016 interactive installation, Mimus, even earned her the nickname, "The Robot Whisperer." She is three-time World Economic Forum Cultural Leader, and serves as a council member on the World Economic Forum Global Council for IoT, Robotics, & Smart Cities.

Artists and designers are no exception when it comes to taking the help of computer software and gadgets. Such is the power of technology that the way ideas are conceptualised and expressed has changed dramatically. With the availability of high-end gadgets, there is a new generation of digital artists, who don't rely on conventional modes of pencil and paper. Technology has not only changed the way artists draw, but it has also ensured that their works are preserved longer and disseminated to a much wider audience easily. Augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning: they have all made their way into art and design.