The Future of AI Music

Polyphonic
28 Jun 202419:10

TLDRThe video explores the impact of AI on the future of music, discussing its integration into the industry and the ethical concerns surrounding it. It highlights AI's role in creating music and visuals, emphasizing the need for creative use of technology to avoid generic outputs. The speaker anticipates a musical revolution driven by AI, urging artists to embrace and innovate with these new tools to express the human experience.

Takeaways

  • πŸ˜€ AI's impact on the music industry is significant, with generative AI reshaping how music is created and consumed.
  • 🌐 Despite the ongoing culture war around AI, the technology is increasingly being integrated into mainstream music production and artistry.
  • πŸ€– Ethical questions surrounding AI, such as intellectual property and biases, are important but are unlikely to halt the adoption of AI in music.
  • 🎼 The history of music is closely tied to technological advancements, suggesting AI will likely lead to the next major musical movement.
  • 🎢 AI in music is currently facing criticism for being unoriginal and lacking creativity, but this may change as artists find new ways to use the technology.
  • πŸ‘¨β€πŸŽ¨ The potential for AI in art lies in its ability to create unique combinations and mashups, similar to the artistic medium of collage.
  • πŸ“š Artists like Everything Everything and Holly Herndon are experimenting with AI to create new forms of music that blend with traditional creativity.
  • 🎡 AI's role in music is expanding beyond composition to include aspects like noise cleanup and unique sound manipulations.
  • 🎭 The use of AI in visual art for music, such as album covers and music videos, is creating novel and sometimes unsettling imagery.
  • πŸ‘½ AI's 'failures' or 'mistakes' can lead to interesting and unique outcomes in art, which can be harnessed to create compelling music and visuals.
  • πŸš€ As AI becomes more commonplace, the new generation will likely find innovative ways to use it in art, potentially leading to a new musical revolution.

Q & A

  • What has been the impact of generative AI on the music industry?

    -Generative AI has brought about significant changes in the music industry, comparable to the advent of file sharing. It has the potential to completely transform creativity in music production and consumption.

  • Why did the author decide to hold off on discussing AI in music earlier?

    -The author initially decided to hold off on discussing AI in music due to the culture war that erupted around AI and personal exhaustion from the topic.

  • What ethical questions does the author mention regarding AI in music?

    -The author mentions several ethical questions, including intellectual property, carbon footprints, data ownership, and biases inherent in AI.

  • How does the author view the relationship between technology and major genre shifts in music history?

    -The author believes that most major genre and cultural shifts in modern music history are directly tied to the prevailing musical technology of the day, suggesting that AI will likely bring about the next significant musical movement.

  • What is the author's opinion on AI's creative capabilities in comparison to human creativity?

    -The author acknowledges that AI can't be creative in the same way humans are, but suggests that people can be creative with AI, similar to how they can be creative with other tools like samplers or cameras.

  • Can you provide an example of how AI is being used in music production today?

    -One example is the band Everything Everything, who used a generative AI program to help write lyrics for their 2022 album 'Raw Data Feel' by feeding the AI various texts and then selecting and reinterpreting the output.

  • What does the author suggest as a potential future for AI art in music?

    -The author suggests that a potential future for AI art in music involves blending it with more traditional forms of creativity, allowing for more novel and interesting outcomes.

  • What is the author's view on the current state of AI music in terms of its aesthetic appeal and interest?

    -The author finds most AI music to be bland and uninteresting, as it often represents people using the technology as designed, without exploring its potential for creating something truly novel or thought-provoking.

  • How does the author relate the use of AI in music to the quote by Brian Eno about new mediums in art?

    -The author relates AI in music to Eno's quote by suggesting that the 'failures' or unexpected outcomes of AI technology could become its signature, much like distortion or other imperfections in other mediums have been embraced and emulated.

  • What is the author's perspective on the role of AI in expressing the human experience through art?

    -The author believes that AI is a brilliant tool for exploring human experiences in the context of advancing digital technology and that future generations will use AI to make art and express themselves.

  • Why does the author argue against the fear-mongering around AI and its impact on art and music?

    -The author argues against fear-mongering because they believe that humans will always create art and that AI provides new tools for artists to explore and express themselves in novel ways.

Outlines

00:00

🎡 AI and the Future of Music 🎡

The script discusses the impact of generative AI on the music industry, noting its increasing presence in everyday life and its potential to revolutionize music creation. The author reflects on the cultural war surrounding AI and their initial hesitation to engage with the topic. Despite the ethical questions around AI, such as intellectual property and biases, the author believes that AI will continue to be adopted due to its convenience. Historically, technological advancements have driven major shifts in music genres, and AI is poised to be the next significant influence. The author also mentions their use of Adobe's Firefly AI in the video, emphasizing the importance of using AI ethically.

05:01

πŸ€– The Creativity of AI in Music πŸ€–

This paragraph delves into the debate about AI's creative capabilities, arguing that while AI itself is not creative, it can be a tool for human creativity, much like a sampler or a camera. The author draws a parallel between AI and the art of collage, suggesting that AI can be used to rearrange existing elements to create new associations and emotional responses. Examples of artists using AI in unique ways are provided, such as Everything Everything's album 'Raw Data' and Holly Herndon's AI project. The author criticizes the blandness of most AI music and calls for more innovative uses of the technology to create interesting and meaningful art.

10:03

🎢 Exploring AI's 'Artificial Stupidity' in Music 🎢

The script explores the concept of using AI's 'artificial stupidity' as a creative asset, referencing Brian Eno's idea of embracing the imperfections of new mediums. Artists like Oneohtrix Point Never and Tom Hulkenberg have experimented with AI to create unique sounds by pushing the technology beyond its intended use. The author discusses how AI's failures can lead to 'happy accidents' and contribute to the texture of an era. The paragraph also touches on the visual aspects of AI in music, such as album covers and music videos, which capitalize on AI's uncanny and surreal capabilities to comment on modern existence.

15:04

🌐 The Post-Truth World and AI Art 🌐

In this final paragraph, the author contemplates the role of AI in a post-truth world, where shared realities are eroding. They argue that AI can be a powerful tool for exploring the intersection of humanity and technology. The author expresses optimism about the future of AI in music, suggesting that it will lead to a new musical revolution. They dismiss fears that AI will kill art, asserting that humans will always create art and will find new ways to use and break AI tools. The paragraph concludes with a promotion for Ground News, a platform aimed at providing objective news through data-driven insights.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Generative AI

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can create new content, such as music, art, or text. In the context of the video, generative AI is central to the discussion on how AI is influencing the creation and future of music. The script mentions that AI has been integrated into various aspects of music production, from beats to lyrics, showcasing its generative capabilities.

πŸ’‘Cultural Perceptions

Cultural perceptions are the shared beliefs, values, and attitudes within a society or group. The video script discusses how AI music often reflects and is influenced by our cultural perceptions, creating music that is a 'vague approximation of ideas trained on our own cultural perceptions.' This highlights the importance of context and societal influence on AI-generated content.

πŸ’‘Collage

A collage is an art form that involves the arrangement of different forms, creating a new whole from the juxtaposition of existing elements. The script uses collage as a metaphor for AI's creative process, suggesting that just as a collage artist rearranges visual elements, AI rearranges musical elements to create something new, even if it's not creating the elements from scratch.

πŸ’‘Moral Panic

Moral panic describes a widespread fear, often unreasonable, about the impact of a perceived threat on society's values, particularly from a new cultural phenomenon. The video references moral panic in the context of new technologies, such as recording technology and AI, and how they have historically been met with resistance and concern, yet they still become integrated into society and influence cultural shifts.

πŸ’‘AI Mashups

AI Mashups refer to the blending of different musical elements or styles using artificial intelligence. The script mentions AI mashups as a way that AI is currently being used in music, creating novel combinations of sounds and styles that might not have been thought of otherwise, pushing the boundaries of creativity in music production.

πŸ’‘Deep Fakes

Deep fakes are synthetic media in which a person's likeness is replaced with someone else's using AI. In the script, deep fakes are discussed in relation to music, where AI can be used to create a version of an artist's voice, allowing anyone to sing with a deep-fake version of that artist, blurring the lines between reality and creation in art.

πŸ’‘AI Noise Cleanup

AI noise cleanup is a technology that uses AI to remove unwanted noise from audio recordings. The script mentions this technology as an example of how AI is being used in post-production to enhance the quality of music, giving producers a new tool to refine their work and achieve a cleaner sound.

πŸ’‘Ethical Questions

Ethical questions pertain to the moral implications and responsibilities associated with a particular issue or action. The video script touches on various ethical concerns related to AI, such as intellectual property, carbon footprints, data ownership, and biases in AI, indicating that while these issues are important, they may not hinder the adoption of AI due to its convenience and benefits.

πŸ’‘Technological Progress

Technological progress refers to the ongoing advancements and innovations in technology that drive societal and cultural changes. The script discusses how ethical concerns have historically not stopped the march of technological progress, suggesting that despite current debates, AI will continue to evolve and shape the future of music.

πŸ’‘AI Music

AI Music is a genre of music created or influenced by artificial intelligence. The script explores the current state and potential future of AI music, discussing its increasing presence in the industry and the cultural shifts it may bring about. It also addresses the challenges and opportunities AI presents to traditional notions of creativity and artistry in music.

πŸ’‘Artificialζ„šθ ’ (Artificial Stupidity)

The term 'Artificial Stupidity' is used in the script to describe the unexpected and sometimes strange outcomes that AI can produce, which can be harnessed for creative purposes. It's a play on the more commonly used term 'Artificial Intelligence,' suggesting that the mistakes AI makes can be as valuable as its successes in driving innovation and artistic expression.

Highlights

The impact of generative AI on the future of music and its integration into the industry.

The author's initial hesitation to engage in the AI culture war and the decision to wait for the dust to settle.

The increasing presence of AI in music with big-name artists and its role in high-profile feuds.

The ethical considerations of AI in music, including intellectual property and data ownership.

The inevitability of AI's widespread adoption despite ethical concerns.

Historical parallels between technological advancements and shifts in music genres.

The moral panics surrounding new technologies and their impact on music traditions.

The limitations of AI creativity and its comparison to other non-intelligent tools like samplers and cameras.

The potential for AI to be used creatively in music, similar to the use of collage in visual art.

Examples of artists like Everything Everything and Holly Herndon experimenting with AI in their music.

The use of AI in music production for noise cleanup and creating unique sounds.

The lack of interesting AI music and the need for artists to break the technology to create something novel.

Brian Eno's perspective on the potential of AI to capitalize on 'artificial stupidity' for creative purposes.

The use of AI in album art and music videos to create uncanny and surreal visuals.

The potential of AI to reflect and comment on the strange realities of modern existence.

Eno's experiments with generative music and the creation of a documentary with endless variations.

The upcoming generation's familiarity with AI and their potential to redefine art and music with these tools.

The importance of staying informed about AI developments and the role of platforms like Ground News.