EPSILON — Real-Time AI Carnival Booth at MAD//Fest 2025
TYPE & TECH Realtime AI / Event Installation
CLIENT Epsilon
A digital assistant experience engineered for race-day engagement.
At MAD//Fest 2025, one booth stood out with constant crowds, smiling faces, and a queue that never seemed to shrink. Epsilon partnered with Solarflare Studio to deliver a bold, unforgettable brand moment — a carnival-themed AI installation that playfully brought identity to life.
At its centre was a real-time AI mirror powered by StreamDiffusion, generating wildly unique character reinterpretations of each guest. Never the same twice.
More than just a spectacle, the installation gave a tangible sense of Epsilon’s CORE ID product — smart, personal, and full of personality.
Exploring the edge of identity
Epsilon wanted to showcase CORE ID, their platform for recognising and personalising real people, in a way that felt immediate, creative, and fun.
The challenge? Translate a complex data product into an interactive experience that anyone at the festival could walk up to, enjoy, and remember. All while hinting at both the promise and limitations of AI-led identity technology.
One mirror. Infinite identities.
We designed and developed an AI-powered mirror experience built in TouchDesigner, using StreamDiffusion to generate AI character interpretations live on-screen. A festival-goer’s reflection was captured, interpreted, and morphed — blending surrealism, humour, and just a touch of chaos.
Every output was unique and, at times, surprising — not always accurate in gender recognition or facial detail, but always memorable. Rather than perfect polish, the experience leaned into AI’s unpredictable nature.
The booth’s carnival theme extended across the visuals and atmosphere, with colourful graphics, candyfloss props, and an ever-present sense of playful mischief. The mirror’s idle mode was configured to re-engage crowds with teaser visuals, maintaining traffic even during quieter moments.
Festival Favourite
The mirror became one of the most talked-about installations at MAD//Fest 2025. With over 15,000 visitors, the Epsilon booth maintained non-stop engagement throughout the three days.
It sparked real conversations about AI’s role in identity, not just through flashy visuals but by showing — with honesty — where the tech thrives and where it still stumbles.
“We loved being on the ground with Epsilon at MAD//Fest — bringing big ideas to life at one of the industry’s most exciting events. The energy, the team, the creative freedom — it all came together to deliver something bold, fun, and completely unforgettable. Collaborating this closely to push the limits of real-time AI was a brilliant experience”
– Jay Short, Client Services Director
Solarflare Studio
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