Can AI Create Better Music than Humans?
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has advanced to the point where it can be used to create new music. But this begs the question: do humans or machines make better music? While taste in music is subjective, there are important aspects of AI-based music to consider.
AI Music: A Learning Process
Currently, most AI systems designed for making music cannot create brand new songs. They can adjust existing soundscapes or beats based on user inputs, resulting in music that may sound similar to other user-generated content. However, Google’s MusicLM and OpenAI’s Jukebox have the ability to create new music, although they are not widely available due to the quality of music they produce.
AI-generated music often has odd sounds, uneven mixes, disconcerting vocals, and strange hybrids of genres. This is because AI systems analyze pre-existing musical examples and generate new songs based on patterns and rules detected by the AI. However, improvement over time is expected.
Study Says AI-Based Music Is Not There Yet
A 2023 study conducted by researchers at the University of York compared human-created music with AI-generated music. Participants rated samples based on dimensions like stylistic success, aesthetic pleasure, melody, harmony, and rhythm. The study found that human-composed music was strongly favored over AI-generated sounds.
The study also suggested that deep learning may not be the key to achieving success with AI-created music since the strongest deep learning method was equivalent to a non-deep learning method.
What’s the Difference?
An important question is whether listeners can discern the difference between AI- and human-generated music. Some listeners can tell the difference based on evaluation parameters and point out a lack of subtle nuance and variety in AI-generated music.
However, studies suggest that it can be difficult to differentiate between the two in some cases. Participants in a survey conducted by Tidio found it challenging to distinguish between AI-based music, human-created music, and stock music. The average person was unable to tell the difference.
Cheat Sheet
- AI systems are not yet capable of creating brand new songs from scratch.
- Google’s MusicLM and OpenAI’s Jukebox can create new music, but their quality has been criticized.
- A 2023 study found that human-composed music was favored over AI-generated music.
- Some listeners can discern the difference between AI- and human-generated music, while others struggle to do so.
Hot Take: Humans and Machines: A Harmonious Collaboration
The debate about whether humans or machines make better music may miss the point. Instead of pitting one against the other, we should consider how humans and AI can collaborate to create unique musical experiences. While AI has its limitations in terms of creativity and emotional depth, it also offers new possibilities for experimentation and innovation. By embracing both human artistry and machine intelligence, we can push the boundaries of musical expression and discover uncharted territories in the realm of sound. The future of music lies not in choosing between humans or machines but in harnessing their combined potential to create something truly extraordinary.
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