The Third Voice, the artistic outcome of the MoralPLai Project, was presented on May 22, 2025, at the Amerikahaus in Munich. Mirjam Novak, Eva Riekenbrauck, Swaraj Oturkar, Stephanie Schulte, Ravi Rege and Joanna Semmelrogge were the six actors who brought the play vividly to life under the theatrical direction of Professor Kresny, with assistance from stage manager Emma Hoffmann.
As the MoralPLai team continues to explore the impact of The Third Voice, we invited the cast to share their experience through a short set of questions, touching on everything from the motivation that brought them into the project, to their evolving thoughts on AI, and the moments from the script that left a lasting impression.
Swaraj Oturkar, took on a dual role as both a “Guilty Person” and an Engineer in The Third Voice. Here is an inside look at his journey through the role, along with his reflections on the overall MoralPLai experience.
Enjoy the read!
Behind the Scenes: Rehearsing The Third Voice
Photo Credits: Hanna Gerischer
1. What inspired you to join the MoralPlai project?
My love for theater, data and AI. It combines two of my favorite things, so it was a very easy choice. Also, I really like the idea of using theater to communicate complex research themes to the public!
Final Preparations Before the Performance
Photo Credits: Hanna Gerischer
2. How comfortable would you feel taking guidance from an AI chatbot on a personal issue?
Very comfortable. But I am trying to change that by being critical of the responses. Since I use it often, I know its responses are not always correct.
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From the script of The Third Voice — Engineer:
“It breathes probability”.
Photo Credits: Hanna Gerischer
3. Has this play influenced your perception of the role of AI in our daily lives, either positively or negatively? If so, in what ways?
Definitely. I am much more critical of the responses now, especially when it’s an open-ended, non-technical question. I would probably not use it to get life advice, but more for research purposes.
The Moment of Applause
Photo Credits: Hanna Gerischer
4. If you had to choose just one sentence from the script to keep, which one would it be, and why does it stand out to you?
“It is just predicting the next word.” For me, it’s incredible how simple the functioning is and the huge scope for wrong answers. I think it’s focusing on being articulate and “smart-sounding” by predicting the best word instead of giving accurate responses. But that’s being changed as these models get better with time.
5. What final thought would you like people to take away from this experience?
To use AI very carefully. It’s good for situations where it’s summarizing existing knowledge rather than answering a personal, subjective question.
Interested to learn more? Visit the MoralPLai Project webpage and stay tuned for updates.