This talk explores the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and music, questioning what truly defines "real" music in an era of rapid technological advancement. Dustin Ballard, known for his "There I Ruined It" channel, uses humour and creative examples to discuss how AI tools are being used and misused in the music industry.
Is AI the New Sousa?
We often debate what makes music authentic. From the early days of the phonograph, people questioned if recorded music was a substitute for human skill and soul. John Philip Sousa, a big name in his time, thought recorded music reduced music to a mathematical system. Sound familiar? It’s a debate that’s resurfaced with AI, making us ask if AI-generated music is truly music.
Key Takeaways
The definition of "real music" has been debated throughout history with new technologies.
AI can be a tool for musicians, but its use raises questions about authenticity and intent.
The impact of AI on musicians and the creative process is a significant concern.
"There I Ruined It": A Creative Playground
Dustin Ballard runs a social media channel called "There I Ruined It," where he playfully deconstructs popular songs. AI is one of his go-to tools for this. He shared an example of 50 Cent's "In Da Club" reimagined in the style of country legend Conway Twitty, using an AI voice model trained on Twitty's voice. The band in the clip was real, with Ballard himself playing the fiddle, but his vocals were processed by AI.
He also demonstrated how AI can transform lyrics, turning a Red Hot Chili Peppers song into a grocery list, with the AI mimicking the band's singer. Ballard finds AI-generated music from text prompts, like his Bowie-esque blues song, a bit unsettling, especially when it sounds so convincing but the artist never existed.
The Many Faces of AI in Music
Ballard highlights the wide spectrum of how AI can be used in music creation:
Lyric Assistance: Using AI like a rhyming dictionary.
New Sounds: Creating novel instrument sounds, similar to synthesizers.
Style Emulation: Training AI on an artist's work to create new songs in their style.
Voice Manipulation: Using different AI voices, much like a guitarist uses different guitars.
He shared a humorous example of using his coworker's voice, processed by AI, to sing "Baby Got Back" to the tune of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Another example showed an AI transforming a simple violin melody into a dramatic movie score.
Setting the Guardrails for AI Music
The confusion around AI in music is so widespread that even lawmakers struggle to grasp it. Ballard recounted a congressional hearing where his AI mashup of Johnny Cash singing "Barbie Girl" was played, leading to a representative to state, "Robots should not be subject to free speech." Ballard, who is not a robot, feels that musicians are left to create their own guidelines for using AI responsibly.
He proposes three key questions to consider:
Is it Deceptive? Could someone genuinely believe it's real?
Is There Artistic Intent? Mass-producing songs for streaming likely lacks artistic purpose.
How Does it Affect Musicians? The reaction of artists like Snoop Dogg, who have shared Ballard's creations, suggests a potential for positive engagement.
Ballard believes that when used thoughtfully, AI can actually boost creativity, leading to new sounds and styles we can't yet imagine. He concluded with a final, humorous AI creation for Nickelback fans, demonstrating the unpredictable and sometimes absurd outcomes of this technology.
