News Discussion
Will AI Mean Death of Music or More Creativity?


Weekly News Digest
ニュースディスカッション教材

Will AI Mean Death of Music or More Creativity?

今回は、音楽制作におけるAI技術の活用に関するニュースです。AIを使った楽器や作曲ツールが登場し、創造性を広げる一方で、倫理的な懸念も出ています。ちなみに、本文に登場する divided は「(意見が)分かれている」という意味で、divided opinion(分かれた意見)、divided society(分断された社会)、be divided on~(〜について意見が分かれる) などの形で使われます。あなたなら、AIにどんな可能性や不安を感じますか?記事を読んで、レッスンで講師と話してみましょう。

1.Article

Directions: Read the following article aloud.

Inside a recording 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 sensors added to it. The sensors can read his movements to create percussive, 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 ethical 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.

I'm Jill Robbins.

Alessandro Parodi, Olivier Sorgho and Matt Stock reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.



Source:Will AI Mean Death of Music or More Creativity? VOA

本教材は、the U.S. Agency for Global Mediaより許諾を得て、産経ヒューマンラーニング株式会社が編集しています。

テキストの無断転載・無断使用を固く禁じます 。

Weekly News Digest
ニュースディスカッション教材

2.Key phrases and vocabulary

First repeat after your tutor and then read aloud by yourself.

  1. 1. doctoral (adj.) related to the most advanced college degree, a PhD
    Phil is a doctoral student in linguistics, the study of language.
  2. 2. aim (n.) purpose
    The aim of this study is to better understand how blue light affects a person’s sleep.
  3. 3. divided (adj.) different (usually when referring to opinions)
    Scientists are divided on the health benefits of red wine.
  4. 4. estate (n.) the legal representative of the work of an artist or writer who has died
    The estate of Keith Haring allows his art to appear on products such as T-shirts.
  5. 5. ethical (adj.) related to ideas of right and wrong; moral
    In my public speaking class, we often debate ethical issues.

3.Questions

Read the questions aloud and answer them.

  1. 1. What is Netz, and how does it work?
  2. 2. How is a HITar different from a normal guitar?
  3. 3. How do Amy Love and Mathieu Barthet feel about the use of AI in music?
  4. 4. Why might people feel that using real people’s voices, either living or dead, is unethical?
  5. 5. Have you ever used AI to create art, music, or writing? If not, would you like to?

本教材は、the U.S. Agency for Global Mediaより許諾を得て、産経ヒューマンラーニング株式会社が編集しています。

テキストの無断転載・無断使用を固く禁じます 。