Defending AI's role in music: 'Bands will exist in new ways'

Artichoke FM is the musical project of George Hopkin and Adam Krajczynski, two independent musicians and technologists who’ve been exploring AI music tech for a while now.

Hopkin has written a thoughtful blog post in response to the recent coverage of AI band The Velvet Sundown.

“The Velvet Sundown didn’t mess up because they used AI. They messed up because they lied about it,” he wrote.

“This wasn’t innovation, it was a cheap trick. Create some fictional personas, upload the songs, watch the streams roll in, then act surprised when people feel deceived. It’s sonic catfishing, and precisely the approach that gives AI-enhanced music a bad name straight out of the gate before it’s had a chance to make friends and influence people.”

Hopkin thinks that more creative, human-driven projects are on the way though.

“Punk creators using free tools to make games, art, and music that reach millions without ever having to take a step into a studio,” he wrote.

“Bands will exist in new ways, embracing both the technological possibilities of our moment and the enduring human need for connection, meaning, and transcendence through sound.”