From customer service to software development, AI is rapidly replacing jobs, and many are skeptical. Artificial intelligence is closer than ever to replacing us, both intellectually and creatively. It seems to be everywhere nowadays, even the hit movie Weapons used AI in their trailer to replicate children’s drawings, as music artists such as Grimes and Liam Gallagher from Oasis have encouraged fans to replicate their music via AI.
Companies have plastered “Stop Hiring Humans” billboards across urban cities, first spotted in San Francisco. Another, encouraging people to befriend an AI chatbot, hit the streets of New York this summer. Many thought it was too early for this sheer amount of dystopia, but it will only get worse.
Unfortunately, the AI wave has hit the music industry as well. A few years ago, AI was primarily used to assist with mixing and mastering, as seen in the example of The Beatles’ song “Now and Then,” which features a cleaned-up version of Lennon’s vocals from a demo tape. Now, it is being used to replicate vocals completely, without the artist’s consent, as AI slop was bound to hit the world of entertainment at some point.
Artificial musicians
AI artist Xania Monet is the first clanker to hit radio commercial status, and she likely won’t be the last.
Telisha Nikki Jones created Monet with the goal that Xania would be “an extension of herself.” She argues that the soul of the music comes from the lyrics, which she composed from poems she has been writing since she was 24, according to an interview with “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King.
Monet has already appeared on several Billboard charts. Since releasing her first song this summer, she has been on the Hot R&B Songs list for her song “How Was I Supposed to Know” and another chart for “Let Go, Let God.”
After being in a bidding war with other record labels, Hallwood Media has now signed her to a multimillion-dollar record deal.
Many people are skeptical. Popular R&B artist Kehlani took to TikTok to voice her frustration, “There is an AI R&B artist who just signed a multi-million-dollar deal, and has a Top 5 R&B album, and the person is doing none of the work.” Many deserving human artists could have taken Monet’s place, but it seems that record labels are looking for something different, hopefully not a telltale sign of the future.
AI trickery
At this point, AI videos have tricked many of us. Whether it was the bear jumping on a trampoline or the fake Ring camera videos, it may be hard to tell. There are a few key visual indicators that may distort an AI-generated video to differentiate it from reality. All AI needs to generate a realistic song is the ability to master audio. The AI accent is the only thing that has kept some from being tricked.
The first AI song to put people’s heads on a swivel was the viral song “A Million Colors.” The song, intended to be a replication of the 1950s doo-wop style, became the first-known AI-generated song last year. It landed on the TikTok Viral Top 50 and amassed millions of likes and thousands of videos with the song. At the time, the AI accent was hard to notice. This is considering that it was masking itself as an old-timey recording, but lo and behold it was AI, matched with an AI cover.
The Brazilian song “Predador de Perereca” recently went viral on TikTok, with 2.1 million videos using it. Unbeknownst to many, AI generated the song. The problem is that it uses the original vocals from the 2015 song by MC Jhey. Still, AI remixed the instrumentals, making it nearly impossible for the listener to spot the artificially generated beat. The AI-generated Velvet Sundown and Break Rust have also made headlines for the sheer number of listeners they have amassed.
Tech bros and their AI fandom
It’s no secret that some are fans of AI and its ability to create. Some even think it can coexist without the expense of human production. Tech bros (huge fans of Silicon Valley) have stereotypically become big fans of AI entertainment.
Podcaster Joe Rogan, who has a mass following of tech bros, recently reacted to an AI music video. “50 Cent – Many Men Soul Parody” played while Rogan applauded this parody and found it to be an earworm.
This sharply contrasts Rogan’s thoughts two years ago when AI replicated a Joe Rogan podcast in which he thought that AI was a “slippery slope.”
It is also important to note that investors can invest in companies that allow AI music creation. As more celebrities give this attention, they funnel more money into the mix. The amount of attention that AI music will get will surely get out of hand if it skyrockets in innovation.
Beware of the future
A few years ago, the argument was that AI could never replace human creativity. Now, here it is blending in with human-made music. The internet revolution took place three decades ago, and the next seems to be AI.
AI is already replacing lo-fi, ambient, and many other instrumentals. It has become difficult to distinguish what instrumental AI has produced and what the human mind has produced. AI models can now generate thousands of loops, complete with jazz chords, synth pads, and other sounds that mimic human production.
Unfortunately, there are many pros to hiring artificial intelligence over humans, but it is ultimately immoral. Soon, a lucrative incentive will benefit both record labels and streaming services alike. Infinite scalability, zero royalties, labor costs, or burnout will only help corporations profit.
Considering a one-minute AI video can consume about 8 gallons of water, AI music will surely be similarly detrimental. The sheer environmental impact takes the soul out of the artificial music alone, and we can only hope that this booming clanker train will soon crash.
