"Upon collapse, the extravagant promises surrounding AI in music creation will be exposed as significantly exaggerated": AI in music production - determining the appropriate boundary?
In the ever-evolving world of music, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making a significant impact, expanding creative possibilities and raising ethical challenges.
AI is democratizing music production, lowering barriers for new creators and enabling innovative collaborations. Tools like AIVA, Amper Music, and Google’s Magenta can produce professional-grade music across genres, allowing artists and producers to experiment or overcome creative blocks. While some critics argue that AI lacks the emotional depth inherent in human music, research shows AI-generated music can evoke strong emotional responses, potentially even greater than human compositions[2][3][4].
However, the use of AI in music production also raises ethical concerns. Questions about authorship and originality arise when AI contributes significantly or entirely to a piece of music. The lack of clear policies on AI-generated music royalties and recognition creates concerns about fairness, with human musicians potentially competing on uneven terms with AI content[1][2][5].
On the creative front, AI serves as a complementary tool—offering foundational ideas or producing music rapidly—without fully replacing human creativity. Emotional engagement from AI music is significant and growing in acceptance by audiences.
On the ethical front, there are ongoing industry debates about how AI models learn from large datasets that include copyrighted material, posing questions about fair use and the need for legal protections for original creators. The relationship between computing power and the "smartness" of an AI is not linear; there is a point beyond which adding more processing power yields ever diminishing returns[6].
The intertwined relationship between technology and music has functioned beautifully for millennia. Making a synth, trumpet, or flute requires electronics, metal smelting, or the ability to hollow out a stick. Music is fundamentally defined by technology, and AI is the latest addition to this long-standing relationship.
Despite the potential benefits, the AI bubble may be headed in a direction similar to the tech and e-commerce bubble of the late '90s and early 00s, with many AI development companies potentially folding[7]. The return-on-investment problem is already causing some companies to pull back from their investment in AI and reduce their reliance on the technology.
In summary, AI is transforming not only how music is made and experienced but also how the industry grapples with longstanding notions of creativity, value, and ethical responsibility[1][2][4][5]. As the use of AI in music production continues to evolve, it is crucial for governments and industry leaders to address the ethical challenges and establish policies that ensure fairness and protect the rights of original creators.
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystirban/2018/01/24/ai-music-is-the-future-but-who-will-own-the-rights/?sh=6f6d42937775 [2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-020-0725-3 [3] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-020-0726-2 [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-020-0727-1 [5] https://www.wired.com/story/ai-music-copyright-ethics/ [6] https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/02/18/1000708/what-makes-an-ai-smart/ [7] https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/12/12/the-ai-bubble-is-bursting
AI-generated music is poised to evoke strong emotional responses, potentially even greater than human compositions, as AI continues to make a significant impact in the music industry. However, ethical concerns, such as questions about authorship, ownership, and fair use of AI-generated music, necessitate careful consideration and the establishment of policies for the protection of original creators.
