The A.I. Revolution

A recent article I found on techspot.com spoke of the advancements of AI in our everyday life and how impressive the developments are. I am usually in agreement, but this article spoke of a new development where the AI can be used to create appropriate soundtracks based on photographs, paintings, and other still images. They showed several examples including a song track composed from viewing Vincent Van Gough’s “Starry Night”. Admittedly, the music was as provocative as the painting, but still, it was from a computer and lacked a certain “feeling”.

The technical aspect it is interesting, but I am afraid no matter how great the AI, it will end up being like the AI driven news articles I see. Something is just lacking that keeps it from being a truly impressive piece. And, despite this being a bit snobby, there are something I don't want a machine to be able to do. Truly great music has a certain soul that is a part of the person that composes it. Be it the William Tell Overture or one of many Bach's Concertos, or any of the music YOU like the most, it is inspiring, gives you that rush of endorphins that make you feel like you can run outside and hurl your car across the street. That is the music that captures you, stirs your emotions and holds your attention like no other.

Imagine, back in 1969 when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. We were gathered around an old B&W TV watching and listening. No robot could have ever created the mood, the feelings and the memories of that moment like Armstrong did when he uttered those memorable words "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". Just hearing it today raises the hair on my neck and brings tears to my eyes.

No, I don't care how good the AI is, I just feel there are certain things that need to be "hands off, for humans only" in this techno-revolution. Not only for the sake of the creative form, but for the sake of mankind as well.

Life continues to speed forward, every faster, emotionless and uncaring for those that are left behind. We are starting to see some of the spin-offs from this in our every day lives. The atrocities we see on the news, the ones that truly offend us, get swept aside by the next and the next to the point that we see to go into an automatic cycle of shock, dismay, anger, acceptance and then on to the next one. A mass shooting that would have captured the nations grief for months and months, now is over in a few days when the next one comes along, almost as thought there is a competition for attention.

Mind you, I’m not taking on an anti-technology attitude like a Ted kaczynski or suggesting we abandon technology all together; I just think that it’s rapid expansion and the speed it is progressing take away from our need to spend time appreciating it before the next latest and greatest discovery. In fact, if we do not see the next greatest development the next day, we feel let down, somehow cheated all of which goes toward a de-humanizing approach to life.

Yes, I know, it’s all because I am becoming old, but age brings with it a great deal of experience and a certain amount of wisdom. The older I get, the more I realize that so many of my father’s teachings that I scoffed at, were right on the mark. I only wish I had discovered that earlier, but I do try to make the most of them now. I sometimes wonder if my own children will ever have such a lucent moment and realize what I have shared might have been pretty good advice.

AI isn’t going to solve all the problems, but it is still good. I just wish the world would slow down a little bit so I could fully appreciate the last discovery before the next one captures my attention.