Developed for the exhibition The World Through AI at Jeu de Paume in Paris, Repetition Penalty is an installation by the Catalan art collective Estampa that explores the poetic nature of algorithmic hallucination and repetition in generative text models. The title refers to a key parameter in text generation that suppresses redundancy, repurposed here as a conceptual and aesthetic engine.

The installation consists of 10 modular units, each integrating 20 LED matrices (8x8) and 3 mechanical seven-segment digits. These modules scroll AI-generated texts that loop, stutter, and morph, exposing the statistical rhythms of language synthesis.

The design, fabrication, and electronics were carried out by Loco Machines. Each module is controlled by a Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller programmed to manage both LED displays and mechanical digits independently. The fabrication process combined laser-cut metal, 3D printed enclosures, and hand-assembled electronics to create robust, modular display units.

A custom API was developed to manage real-time communication and synchronization between modules. This infrastructure allows remote updates, monitoring, and full integration into the conceptual framework of the piece.

Presented alongside works by internationally recognized artists such as Joan Fontcuberta, Hito Steyerl, Trevor Paglen, Grégory Chatonsky, and Kate Crawford, the installation contributes a critical and poetic perspective on how language and meaning are shaped by generative systems.

Supported by Ajuntament de Barcelona and Jeu de Paume, the work highlights the tension between algorithmic control and human interpretation.