My Thoughts on AI and AI Music

Junkie XL
20 Mar 202405:07

TLDRTom discusses the integration of AI in music composition, expressing excitement for its potential to assist musicians and composers. He acknowledges concerns about job displacement but draws parallels to historical technological advancements. AI's current capabilities in music are likened to a beginner, with strengths in classical music due to its theoretical nature. Tom encourages embracing AI as a tool for enhancing creativity and foresees significant developments within the next decade.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Tom expresses a positive outlook on AI and its integration into the music-making process.
  • 🤖 He anticipates the development of AI software that will allow musicians to influence its learning curve for better music decisions.
  • 😨 Tom acknowledges the fear among people that AI might replace jobs, but he sees it as a continuation of a historical trend of technological advancement.
  • 🏭 He references the Industrial Revolution as the beginning of job displacement due to technology, which has continued with automation and AI.
  • 🎼 AI in music is not yet fully developed, with the market not being large enough to support extensive development, but Tom predicts this will change soon.
  • 👶 Tom compares the current state of AI in music to a young musician, suggesting it has potential but is not yet mature.
  • 🎻 AI excels in composing classical music due to its reliance on theory and structure, which aligns with AI's strengths.
  • 🎤 For genres like pop music, AI struggles to replicate the unique artistic choices made by bands, which are harder to emulate.
  • 🛠️ Tom encourages embracing technological advancements, drawing parallels to past resistance to drum computers and synthesizers.
  • 💡 He suggests using AI as a tool to enhance one's skills as a composer and to learn from it.
  • 🔮 Tom is optimistic about AI's potential in music but acknowledges it's not yet at a level where it can replace human creativity.
  • 🤔 With a nod to the unpredictable future, Tom leaves open the possibility that he might be wrong about AI's impact on his career.

Q & A

  • What is the speaker's opinion on AI and its integration into the music-making process?

    -The speaker loves AI and embraces it. They are looking forward to a time when AI is well-integrated into the music-making process, allowing composers, musicians, and producers to guide AI to make better decisions.

  • How does the speaker address the fear of job loss due to AI advancements in the music industry?

    -The speaker acknowledges the fear but points out that job displacement due to technological advancements has been happening since the Industrial Revolution. They encourage embracing AI as a tool rather than fearing it.

  • What historical context does the speaker provide to discuss the impact of AI on professions?

    -The speaker references the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s in England, where certain professions became obsolete due to new technologies, and the subsequent development of new industries and roles.

  • Why does the speaker believe AI is not yet fully developed for music composition?

    -The speaker mentions that the market for AI in music is not large enough to fully invest in its development, and the current AI algorithms are still clunky and not sophisticated enough to replace human composers.

  • In which genre of music does the speaker think AI has the most potential currently?

    -The speaker believes AI has the most potential in classical music because it is based on theory and science, which AI software and computers excel at.

  • What is the speaker's comparison between AI's current music composition abilities and a young musician's?

    -The speaker compares AI's current music composition abilities to that of a 12 or 14-year-old beginner in music, indicating that it is not yet advanced.

  • How does the speaker view the historical reactions to new technologies in the music industry?

    -The speaker notes that with each new technology, such as drum computers and synthesizers, there was fear and resistance. However, these technologies ultimately led to new opportunities and changes in the industry.

  • What advice does the speaker give to those concerned about AI's impact on their music careers?

    -The speaker advises embracing AI, learning about it, and using it as a personal tool to become a better composer, rather than fighting against technological development.

  • What is the speaker's prediction for the future of AI in music composition?

    -The speaker predicts that within 10 to 15 years, AI will be advanced enough to significantly impact music composition. They also suggest that we might see significant developments even within the next few years.

  • How does the speaker feel about the potential for AI to replace human musicians in the future?

    -While the speaker is optimistic about AI's potential, they also acknowledge the possibility that they might be out of a job in the future due to AI advancements, but they emphasize embracing change rather than fearing it.

  • What is the speaker's final call to action for the audience regarding AI and music?

    -The speaker encourages the audience to read about AI, understand its capabilities and limitations, and use it as a tool to enhance their own music-making process.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 Embracing AI in Music Composition

Tom introduces the topic of AI's role in music composition, expressing his enthusiasm for its integration into the creative process. He acknowledges the fear of job loss due to AI but relates it to historical technological advancements like the Industrial Revolution. Tom explains that AI is still in its early stages in music, with current capabilities akin to a young musician, and excels in classical music due to its theoretical nature. He encourages embracing AI as a tool to enhance one's skills as a composer.

05:01

🔚 Wrapping Up the Episode

The script concludes with Tom signaling the end of the episode, inviting viewers to share their thoughts and promising to see them in the next episode. This paragraph serves as a transition to the end of the video, providing a closing remark and a call for audience engagement.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and act like humans. In the context of the video, AI is being embraced as a tool for the future of music creation. The speaker is excited about the potential for AI to be integrated into the music-making process, allowing composers and musicians to guide AI in making more sophisticated decisions about composition.

💡Music Making Process

The music making process encompasses all the stages involved in creating music, from composition to production. The video discusses the anticipation of AI playing a significant role in this process, potentially aiding musicians in making better decisions and creating music more efficiently.

💡Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the 1800s, was a period during which agrarian societies became industrialized. The video uses this historical event as a comparison to the current technological advancements, including AI, and how they might impact jobs and professions, just as the Industrial Revolution did.

💡Autoc Composing Algorithm

An autoc composing algorithm refers to a system that can automatically generate music based on certain parameters or influences provided by the user. The script mentions early attempts at creating such algorithms with AI, which were initially 'clunky' but represent the potential for more advanced music creation tools in the future.

💡Classical Music

Classical music is a genre that has a long tradition of structured composition and theory. The video points out that AI is particularly adept at creating classical music because it relies heavily on theory and science, which aligns well with the strengths of AI and computer programming.

💡Fugue

A fugue is a complex musical composition characterized by a single theme that is introduced at the beginning and then developed throughout the piece. The video suggests that AI could potentially excel at writing original fugues due to the structured and scientific nature of the composition, which is well-suited to AI's capabilities.

💡Radio Hat

Radio Hat seems to be a fictional band name used in the script to illustrate a point. The video suggests that AI might struggle to create music like 'Radio Hat' because it involves unique artistic choices that are difficult for AI to emulate or generate.

💡Drum Computer

A drum computer, or drum machine, is an electronic instrument designed to imitate drum beats. The video uses the introduction of the drum computer in the 1980s as an example of how new technology was initially met with fear and resistance from professionals, much like the current apprehension towards AI in music.

💡Synthesizer

A synthesizer is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals that can be manipulated to create a variety of sounds. The script mentions the fear that synthesizers would replace piano players, highlighting the recurring theme of technological advancements disrupting traditional roles in music.

💡MP3s and Neepster

MP3s are a type of digital audio format, and Neepster seems to refer to the early days of digital music sharing, which disrupted the music industry. The video uses this as an example of how technological changes can initially cause upheaval but eventually lead to new business models and industry adaptations.

💡Embrace Technological Development

The concept of embracing technological development is the idea of accepting and adapting to new technologies rather than resisting them. The speaker in the video advocates for this approach, suggesting that it can lead to personal and professional growth and should be applied to the integration of AI in music.

Highlights

Tom expresses his enthusiasm for AI in music and its potential integration into the music-making process.

AI's learning curve can be steered by composers, musicians, and producers to make better decisions.

The fear of job loss due to AI is a recurring theme since the Industrial Revolution.

AI's current use is widespread, including complex surgeries and manufacturing, but not yet fully in music.

The market for AI in music is not large enough to fully develop the technology yet.

Early AI music composition tools were and still are quite clunky.

AI's current music composition level is compared to a 12 or 14-year-old beginner.

AI excels in composing classical music due to its theoretical and scientific nature.

Creating original fugues with AI is likely impressive, unlike pop songs which require more artistic choices.

The learning process for AI in music composition needs significant improvement.

Embracing technical developments like drum computers and synthesizers has historically benefited the music industry.

The transition to digital music led to a change in the business model, not the end of music sales.

A similar transition is expected with AI in music, which Tom welcomes.

AI is not yet smart or intelligent enough for sophisticated music composition.

Tom predicts that AI will significantly evolve within the next 10 to 15 years.

He suggests using AI as a personal tool to become a better composer.

Tom's personal philosophy is to embrace, not fight, technical development.

There is a possibility that in 5 years, Tom might be out of a job due to AI advancements.