I Sat ChatGPT Down For An Honest Conversation About The Future Of Composing For Media — Here’s What
With all the hype and hysteria surrounding ChatGPT and its capabilities and all the media coverage, I thought I’d sit our everyday AI…
With all the hype and hysteria surrounding ChatGPT and its capabilities and all the media coverage, I thought I’d sit our everyday AI brethren down for an honest debate about the future of composing for media, which is an industry that I’ve only just begun my journey in.
I’ve only just started regularly using Chat GPT’s impressive & intriguing computing capabilities. It’s a very useful & impressive tool but it’s very disruptive as it is innovative and there are several implications of it, as I expressed in a post on LinkedIN. You can read that here.
I also wrote about AIVA, an AI Composer and how it could be the future of composing, in an earlier post of mine.
This argument comes just on the cusp of what is officially my first short film that I’ve been hired for as a composer and while I’m very excited for it, I thought I’d ask Chat GPT what it thought about the future of composing for media.
Here’s my conversation
Me: Discuss in detail your viewpoint of AI and the future of composing for media
Chat GPT:
As an AI language model, I believe that AI has the potential to revolutionize the process of composing for media, especially when it comes to music, film, and television. AI technologies have already demonstrated their abilities in generating and processing vast amounts of data, and this capacity can be leveraged to create new and innovative ways of composing and producing media.
One area where AI has already made a significant impact is in the field of music. AI algorithms have been used to analyze existing music and create new compositions based on the style, structure, and themes of the original pieces. These technologies can also be used to generate original scores and soundtracks, which can be customized to fit the specific needs of a film or television production.
In addition to music, AI can also be used to generate scripts for films and television shows. By analyzing large amounts of data, AI algorithms can identify patterns and generate storylines that are tailored to specific audiences or genres. This can help to streamline the production process and make it more efficient.
However, despite the many potential benefits of AI in media composition, there are also concerns about its impact on the creative process. Some argue that AI-generated music and scripts lack the emotional depth and nuance that comes from human creativity and expression. Others worry that the use of AI in media production could lead to job loss and a homogenization of artistic expression.
Overall, I believe that AI will play an increasingly important role in the future of media composition, but it will need to be used thoughtfully and with an eye towards balancing efficiency with creativity. The best outcomes will likely come from collaboration between humans and machines, leveraging the unique strengths of each to create something truly innovative and impactful.
Me: Can you list down points and explain the effect that AI will have on the future of music composing?
Chat GPT:
Increased Efficiency and Productivity: One of the most immediate benefits of AI in music composition is the ability to automate certain tasks that were previously done by humans. For example, AI algorithms can analyze large amounts of data to generate music that matches specific moods or genres, saving composers time and effort. AI can analyze large datasets and generate new music compositions much faster than humans, which can save time and increase productivity for composers.
Expanded Creative Possibilities: AI can also help composers explore new creative avenues that they may not have considered otherwise. For example, AI can be used to generate unique melodies, harmonies, and rhythms that might be difficult for a human composer to come up with on their own.
Customization and personalization: AI algorithms can be programmed to generate music compositions based on specific parameters, such as the mood, genre, or instrumentation. This can allow composers to create music that is tailored to specific needs and preferences.
Collaboration and inspiration: AI can be used as a tool for collaboration between composers, allowing them to work together remotely and generate new ideas and inspiration.
New musical genres and styles: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns, which could lead to the creation of new musical genres and styles that are unique and innovative.
Challenges to the traditional music industry: As AI-generated music becomes more prevalent, it could disrupt the traditional music industry and change the way that music is composed, produced, and distributed.
Me: That’s definitely formidable, but I worry, won’t that replace and make the lower tier of composers irrelevant?
Chat GPT:
It’s understandable to have concerns about the impact of AI on composers and the music industry. While AI has the potential to improve efficiency and productivity in music composition, it’s important to recognize that it is a tool that is meant to assist and augment human creativity, rather than replace it entirely.
There will likely still be a need for human composers and musicians, as they bring a unique perspective, creativity, and emotional depth to music that AI algorithms cannot replicate. Additionally, AI-generated music may lack the ability to adapt to changing situations, respond to feedback, or create music that is truly original.
It’s also worth noting that AI-generated music is currently still in its early stages and has limitations in terms of creativity and expression. While AI can be trained on existing musical data, it may not have the same intuition or ability to create something truly unique and innovative in the same way that human composers can.
Ultimately, it’s important for composers to embrace the potential benefits of AI in music composition while recognizing its limitations. By combining human creativity with the capabilities of AI, composers can create music that is truly innovative and unique, while also benefiting from increased efficiency and productivity.
The impact of AI on the music composition industry is likely to be complex and multifaceted. While there may be some job displacement in the short term, it is important to recognize that AI is not a replacement for human creativity and that there will always be a need for skilled composers who are able to create music that is meaningful and impactful.
Me: But it’s significantly cheaper to use AI rather than pay a low level composer, so won’t that leave thousands and maybe millions of composers in the future in the dust?
Chat GPT:
It’s true that AI has the potential to reduce costs in music composition, as it can generate music compositions more quickly and efficiently than human composers. However, it’s important to recognize that there will likely still be a demand for human composers, especially for more complex and emotionally-driven music compositions.
In addition, while AI-generated music may be cheaper in the short-term, it may not necessarily be more cost-effective in the long-term. Human composers bring a unique perspective, creativity, and emotional depth to music that AI algorithms cannot replicate, which can result in more memorable and impactful music compositions. This may be particularly important for industries that rely heavily on music, such as film, television, and video games, where the emotional impact of the music is a critical factor in the success of the product.
Moreover, AI-generated music is still in its early stages and has limitations in terms of creativity and expression. While AI can generate music based on existing data, it may not be able to create something truly unique and innovative in the same way that human composers can.
Overall, while AI has the potential to disrupt the music industry and change the way music is composed, it’s unlikely to replace human composers entirely. Instead, the most successful outcomes will likely come from a combination of AI and human creativity, working together to create music that is both efficient and emotionally impactful.
Me: Yes, I agree to some extent, but surely considering monetary implications even if humans can make more emotional, creative and expressive music, AI is just cheaper so it could displace a lot of composers who are in the beginner/intermediate stage. What do you think?
Chat GPT:
It’s possible that AI-generated music could displace some composers who are at the beginner or intermediate level, especially if the primary goal is to create music that is efficient and cost-effective. However, it’s important to recognize that music composition is a complex and multi-faceted process that involves not only creating a musical score, but also interpreting and expressing emotions, working collaboratively with other musicians and artists, and adapting to feedback and changes in direction.
While AI can generate musical scores quickly and efficiently, it may struggle to capture the full emotional and artistic depth of a composition, which is a critical factor in the success of many types of music, such as film scores or musical theater. Moreover, AI-generated music may not be as adaptable or responsive to changes as human composers, who can work closely with directors, producers, or other musicians to adjust the music as needed.
In addition, while AI-generated music may be cheaper in the short-term, there are also costs associated with the development and implementation of AI algorithms, as well as ongoing maintenance and upgrades. Moreover, there may be limitations to the types of music that AI can generate effectively, which could limit its usefulness in certain contexts.
Overall, while AI-generated music has the potential to disrupt the music industry and change the way music is composed, it’s unlikely to replace human composers entirely. Instead, the most successful outcomes will likely come from a combination of AI and human creativity, working together to create music that is efficient, emotionally impactful, and artistically compelling.
Me: Sure AI is just starting to show its capabilities, but once humans upload the entire landscape and history of music into your AI dataset, it’s surely just a matter of time that AI can create any genre, any mood, and any kind of emotive or expressive music just like your constantly evolving language capabilities. What do you reckon?
Chat GPT:
It’s true that AI has the potential to generate a wide range of musical styles and moods once it has access to a large and diverse dataset of music. However, there are still limitations to what AI-generated music can achieve in terms of emotional expression, creativity, and originality.
Music is more than just a collection of notes and chords; it’s a form of artistic expression that reflects human emotions, experiences, and culture. While AI can generate music that follows certain patterns and rules based on existing data, it may struggle to capture the full emotional depth and nuance of a composition.
Moreover, even with access to a vast dataset of music, AI-generated music may still be limited in terms of originality and creativity. While AI can create music that is similar to existing styles and genres, it may struggle to generate truly innovative and unique music that pushes the boundaries of what is currently known or expected.
That being said, AI-generated music has the potential to be a powerful tool for composers, allowing them to explore new musical ideas and styles, and to generate a wide range of music more efficiently.
However, it’s important to recognize that AI is not a replacement for human creativity and emotion, but rather a tool that can assist and augment human musical expression.
Me: I’d like to add that humans also can make very banal music at times, and the process of learning music & mastering the art is something that takes decades of hard work, time, practice and dedication. AI could simply eradicate the need for all of that and create whatever music the client needs in a matter of no time. And how would people even know if the music they’re listening to is made by humans or AI?
Chat GPT:
You make a valid point that not all human-created music is necessarily emotionally expressive or innovative, and that AI could potentially create music much more efficiently than a human composer. Additionally, the process of learning music and mastering the art does indeed take significant time, practice, and dedication.
However, it’s important to remember that music is not only about efficiency or technical skill, but also about the emotional connection between the composer, the performer, and the listener. While AI can generate music that follows certain patterns and rules based on existing data, it may struggle to capture the full emotional depth and nuance of a composition in the same way that a human composer can. This emotional connection is a critical factor in the success of many types of music, such as film scores or musical theater.
Furthermore, it’s important to consider the ethical and artistic implications of using AI-generated music instead of music created by humans. If the music is being used in a context where the emotional impact is critical, such as in a film or a video game, the use of AI-generated music could potentially result in a less impactful experience for the audience.
In terms of how people would know if the music they are listening to is made by humans or AI, it’s likely that this information would need to be disclosed in some way, either through labeling or attribution. Additionally, as AI-generated music becomes more prevalent, there may be a growing demand for music created by humans as a way to differentiate and add value to the music.
Me: The ethics are a whole other spectrum of debate. Unfortunately, when it comes to money ethics are often disregarded and ignored.
Chat GPT:
It is certainly true that ethical considerations can be overlooked in situations where money is the driving factor. However, it’s important to understand that the use of AI-generated music raises important ethical questions about the nature and value of artistic expression, the impact on human creativity and labor, and the potential consequences for the quality and emotional resonance of the music.
It is important to recognize that ethical considerations can also have a significant impact on the success and sustainability of creative industries.
For example, consumers may be more likely to support artists and creators who prioritize ethical and sustainable practices in their work. Additionally, there may be legal and regulatory frameworks in place to ensure that AI-generated music is properly attributed and compensated.
Ultimately, the relationship between ethics and money is complex and multifaceted. While financial incentives may drive decisions in creative industries, it is important to also consider the long-term impact of those decisions on the industry, the culture, and society as a whole.
As AI-generated music becomes more prevalent, it’s important to have open and honest discussions about the ethical implications of using AI in creative fields, and to consider the potential long-term consequences for artists and society as a whole. It’s crucial to approach these discussions with a willingness to consider diverse perspectives and to prioritize ethical values alongside economic considerations.
Me: I’m totally for using technology to fill the gaps and lessen the learning curve when it comes to creating music. But I’m just curious to understand how it would displace lower and middle-class and working-class creatives for whom music is the main source of income and that’s already hard to come by
You raise an important concern about the potential impact of AI-generated music on lower and middle-class working musicians and composers. It’s true that the increased use of AI-generated music could potentially lead to a decrease in demand for human musicians and composers, which could negatively impact their livelihoods.
However, it’s important to recognize that the use of AI-generated music is still in its early stages, and it’s not yet clear how much it will disrupt the music industry as a whole. Additionally, it’s worth noting that AI-generated music could potentially create new opportunities for musicians and composers, such as by providing new ways to collaborate or by opening up new markets for music.
Moreover, it’s important to consider the ways in which AI-generated music could be used in combination with human creativity and expertise. For example, AI-generated music could be used as a starting point or inspiration for human musicians and composers, who could then add their own unique elements to create a final product that reflects their own artistic vision.
Ultimately, it’s important to approach the use of AI-generated music in a way that balances the potential benefits and risks, and to prioritize the well-being and livelihoods of human musicians and composers. This could involve supporting initiatives to provide education and training for musicians and composers to develop the skills needed to work alongside AI, or advocating for policies that support the protection and compensation of human creative labor in the music industry.
Me: Considering the way AI is rapidly evolving, I’m just curious to ask you if you can give me some stats about how in the next 5 to 10 years most small and medium-budget films and most Ads globally will just use AI-generated music
It’s difficult to predict with certainty how quickly AI-generated music will be adopted in the film and advertising industries, as there are a number of factors that could impact its adoption. However, there are a few trends and projections that suggest that AI-generated music may become more prevalent in these industries over the next few years.
According to a report by Allied Market Research, the global AI in media and entertainment market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 25.5% from 2020 to 2027, driven by factors such as the increasing adoption of AI-powered tools for content creation and the rising demand for personalized content. This growth is likely to include the use of AI-generated music in film and advertising.
Additionally, there are already a number of companies that offer AI-generated music services for the film and advertising industries. These services are often marketed as cost-effective and efficient alternatives to traditional music composition, and they may become increasingly popular as AI technology improves and becomes more widely available.
That being said, it’s important to remember that there will likely still be a demand for human composers and musicians in the film and advertising industries, particularly for projects that require a more unique or emotionally resonant musical score. Moreover, the adoption of AI-generated music may also be influenced by factors such as cultural preferences and industry regulations, which could vary across different regions and markets.
Overall, it was quite an interesting conversation plucking Chat GPT’s brains. But as advanced AI neural networks and technology in general keeps evolving at the rate its going at the moment, we could see a lot of displacement when it comes to jobs in several industries.
This was just one instance of it, and music is a rather comparatively safe industry especially for the performing arts. And I definitely see a lot more interest and appreciation for live shows and performances going ahead.
But this was just my short chat with Chat GPT and I must say I was rather impressed by its ability to hold a conversation and explain itself in alignment with my questions and its programming.
I hope I raised valid and relevant arguments and questions.
But I guess looking ahead, working with the technology side by side is the best way forward.