VOA文化艺术2024--Will AI Mean Death of Music or More Creativity?

Will AI Mean Death of Music or More Creativity?

　　Inside a recording¹ room at Queen Mary University of London, several researchers are working with new artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Their aim is to develop what they call the "new virtual worlds" of music.

　　Andrea Martonelli and Max Graf are among more than 30 doctoral students working with Mathieu Barthet, a senior lecturer in Digital Media. They are exploring the possibilities of computational creativity and generative AI. Generative AI is a term that describes technology tools designed to operate at human levels.

　　Together, the researchers have set up a futuristic studio where music meets cutting-edge technology.

　　Graf showed off a virtual instrument to reporters with the Reuters news agency. Graf calls the instrument Netz. Netz is played through an augmented-reality headset. Augmented-reality equipment combines the real world with computer-created content. The device Graf uses follows body movements to create musical sounds like notes and chords.

　　Martonelli played a HITar, a guitar with AI sensors² added to it. The sensors can read his movements to create percussive³, or drum-like, sounds. These sounds cannot be made with a normal guitar.

　　AI can be found in music-making dating back to the 1950s. But recent progress in generative AI has led to divided opinions on the technology.

　　Generative AI grew in popularity last year thanks to the ChatGPT language system. Generative AI can create new sounds, words for music or entire songs on its own. But artists usually use simpler AI to add to their sound.

　　British musician YUNGBLUD said he believes AI can help his music go "to another direction."

　　Other musicians worry that the technology could go too far. Amy Love plays in the English rock group Nova Twins. She said she is not in favor of music that includes artificially generated voices of actual artists. She said she feels the same way about using dead artists' voices in songs.

　　In November, the Beatles released the song "Now and Then." It is considered the group's last song and includes the voice of Beatles musician John Lennon, who died in 1980. Lennon's voice sounds were taken from an old recording and re-created with AI.

　　New York City-based entertainment company Warner Music said in November it was partnering with the estate of the late French singer Edith Piaf to re-create her voice using AI.

　　Many experts say AI raises legal and ethical⁴ concerns. But guidelines on generative AI are still only in their early stage.

　　Barthet said, "I think AI can have its place in the music production chain." But he added that is only possible if the technology is guided in the right way and if there are rules in place to make sure that musicians keep some amount of control.

　　Words in This Story

　　cutting-edge – n. the newest and most advanced area of activity in an art or science

　　guitar – n. a musical instrument that is held against the front of your body and that has usually six strings⁵ which are played with your fingers or with a pick

　　estate – n. the things left by someone who has died

　　guideline – n. a rule or instruction that shows or tells how something should be done

　　chain – n. a series of connected things or people

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

3 percussive   

adj.敲击的

参考例句：

• When it is dragged over pliant areas, an additional percussive tap could indicate this collision. 当它被拖到受范区域时，一个附加的敲击声提示这种碰触。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Pneumatic DTH (Down-The-Hole) hammer is one of main pneumatic percussive-rotary drilling equipments. 风动冲击器是气动冲击回转钻进的主要设备之一。 来自互联网

4 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

5 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。