IN CULTURE

Algo-Rhythms and the Future of Music Production

Rolling Stone recently featured an article about an AI-generated viral Drake and The Weeknd cover “Heart on My Sleeve” which racked up a whopping 8.5 million views before being pulled from streaming services.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek calls this progress “really cool and scary” in a recent interview per TechCrunch. He thinks it might pose a risk to the creative industry. While he is vibing with AI’s potential to generate new tunes and customize listening experiences, he’s also dropping a beat of caution as it could lead to fewer opportunities for human artists.

On the other hand, artists like Elon’s baby mama, Grimes, are seeking royalties for AI-generated “collabs” while other artists are embracing AI to level up their musical creativity. But where does censorship fall in all of this?

As the industry explores the rise of AI-generated music, the disruption brings to surface issues like copyright, creativity, and the inevitable question of whether AI can ever truly capture the essence of its human counterparts.

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Check out The New York Times’ The Daily podcast episode, “The Ballad of ‘Deepfake Drake.” According to Times’ culture reporter, Joe Coscarelli, this may be more than just a catchy tune. It could signal a seismic shift in the way music is created and consumed. (28 minute listen)

IN HEALTHCARE

AI Miracle Worker or Digital Dilemma?

Stanford professor and former CEO of Kaiser Permanente, Robert Pearl, insists that using ChatGPT in medical practice is a game changer, calling it "more important to doctors than the stethoscope was in the past." Physicians are already using AI to summarize patient care, write letters, and get diagnostic ideas. 

In one example, AI is making waves (literally) in the world of prenatal care. GE Heathcare's SonoCNS tech is an AI-powered ultrasound software that tracks fetal development with more accuracy and consistency, with the ability to detect potential health concerns early and provide better patient care. Then there’s the man who claimed that GPT-4 saved his dog’s life when the vet was stumped. 

Ethical concerns are not limited to the music industry☝, but concerns with digital doctoring are also real and pressing. In the Wired article, Heather Mattie, a Harvard public health lecturer, warns that ChatGPT isn't always 100% correct, and it might generate biased results.

We already know that ChatGPT can pass the US Medical Licensing Exam, but there’s a line it shouldn’t cross - like patient privacy, handling end-of-life convos or high-risk procedures. Those are strictly human-to-human territory.  

Hold onto your leashes…

Boston Dynamic’s robot dogs are now equipped with the gift of gab. (2 minute watch)