Friction by Design: Tangible Encounters with Large Language Models

Abstract

We present Erika, a 1980s East German typewriter reengineered as a tangible AI interface. Connected to a large language model via a microcontroller and WiFi, Erika allows users to type prompts and receive printed AI-generated responses—without screens or digital interfaces. Used in public exhibitions by over 1,500 participants, Erika reveals how generative AI can be made slow, tangible, and discussable. The rhythmic typing, mechanical delay, and nostalgic aesthetics invite reflection on the materiality of interfaces, the opacity of AI, and the evolving role of human–machine communication. Erika addresses the workshop theme Tangibles and AI by showing how embodied, screenless interaction can open new pathways for critical engagement with artificial intelligence in physical space.