AI: An Unnatural Advantage

On Innovation, Ambition, and the Value of Art

An Unpopular Opinion

Like most of us, I've spent a lot of time thinking and talking about AI over the past few years. In that time, my perspective has changed considerably. I've also been noticing that I'm living in quite an anti-AI bubble. As AI plays an increasingly important role in my work, I'm finding myself more and more at odds with the attitudes around me. So I thought I'd try to put my enthusiasm for AI into something vaguely articulate.

Firstly, I want to mention that I live with someone who runs a company built around AI, which gives me a rather different understanding of what the technology is capable of. Because of that, it's easy for me to get excited about the possibilities AI opens up, and how it can help us develop and improve both our work and our day-to-day lives.

At the same time, I feel that there’s a real stigma in creative industries about the use of AI. I get it. I, too, see lack of consent and the “stealing” of ideas and work as a problem. But I think it's important to distinguish between the potential of the technology itself and the ethical questions surrounding how it's developed and used. There are also legitimate environmental concerns surrounding AI, although I think this deserves a much broader discussion about the environmental impact of technology and our consumption habits in general. Singling out AI seems simplistic, given how readily we accept the environmental costs of so many other aspects of modern life.

In short, my point with this blog is this: as musicians, we're already stretched thin in a really tough industry, and I feel that we're unnecessarily holding ourselves back if we don't embrace the possibilities that AI has to offer.

The Limitations of Doing it Yourself

I've always felt held back by my lack of ear for production or eye for design, both of which are pretty essential when you're a DIY artist. AI is helping me bridge some of those gaps.

Being an independent musician these days means being a songwriter, performer, producer, graphic designer, photographer, videographer, editor, publicist, social media manager, accountant, booking agent and business manager, all rolled into one.

Most of us don't have the money to work with experts on every element of our business. If we could afford to, we'd outsource many of these roles and concentrate on the parts of the job that we're good at, and that bring us joy and purpose. So why are so many of us reluctant to let AI take some of that work off our hands?

Would I prefer to work with a producer or a graphic designer? Of course. And for my larger projects, I'll always prioritise investing in and collaborating with people who are experts in their fields. But when you have to wear as many hats as musicians (or, in fact, most entrepreneurs) do, I think it's wise to utilise tools that help us elevate our work to the next level.

For me, outsourcing some of my work to AI doesn't mean taking work away from another creative. It means improving the quality of work I would otherwise have done myself.

AI Didn’t Start This

How many of you have ever programmed strings into a computer?

My job as a session violinist has faced competition from technology for decades now - before I even entered the industry - with the arrival of synth strings and then far more sophisticated sampled string libraries. Technology allows people with no training on my instrument to program an approximation of something I've spent years learning to do - often specifically so they don't have to pay a string player. I have no problem with people using synth strings. As an artist with a limited budget, I often have to make these calls too.

But while technology has reduced demand for musicians like me, it's also opened up possibilities that wouldn't otherwise exist. I think it's important that we remain willing to evolve, stay abreast of technological developments and explore what these new tools have to offer. 

Technology has been amplifying our voices, both literally and figuratively, for generations. The invention of photography challenged the role of realistic painting and encouraged artists to push the boundaries of expression. Digital recording has provided similar opportunities. Computers have allowed us to invent new sounds and instruments, and with multi-tracking, I'm now able to transform a single violin and cello into an orchestra. When used creatively, technology can be beautiful and magical.

And the pace of technological change is accelerating. What seemed impossible just a few years ago is already becoming commonplace.

So where do we draw the line? We've been comfortable automating artistry for years. AI has simply widened our definition of which forms of artistry are expendable.

Raising the Bar: AI Makes Me More Ambitious

One thing I've discovered is that AI doesn't necessarily reduce the time I spend working. On the contrary, it often raises the bar and makes me realise I can produce a higher quality of work.

Suddenly I have information at my fingertips that allows me to learn things much faster than I could by trawling through YouTube tutorials. I can produce complex formulas for spreadsheets and databases without having to master all the technical details. I can be more adventurous in the kitchen while working out the macros for my fitness goals.

I use AI to brainstorm ideas for song lyrics. I've used rhyming dictionaries, thesauruses and sites like RhymeZone for years, so to me this feels like an extension of something I've always done. The lyrics still come from me, but I don't see anything wrong with using a tool to help me explore different possibilities.

I'm using AI to help me write this blog. It takes a lot of work to write something that communicates exactly what I think, and discussing it with ChatGPT isn’t diminishing the process. Sure, I could just ask ChatGPT to write it for me and I would receive a publishable copy in a matter of seconds, but if we all did that, we'd all start to sound the same. More importantly, it wouldn't actually be serving me. For me, writing is an important part of developing and articulating my own thoughts and my own voice.

I also think there's a misconception that using AI requires no skill. You still need to know what you're trying to achieve, how to communicate it, and how to recognise whether the results are any good. The better you understand what you're doing, the more you can get out of the technology.

I think AI can expand what we're capable of, rather than make us dumber.

Why I Bother Practising

But none of this means I think learning an instrument or developing your craft is any less valuable.

I, for one, don't want to rely on computers to be able to create. I want to be able to walk into a room, pick up my violin and have a very human connection with my audience. Fortunately, that's a job AI won't be taking anytime soon.

Technology can remove the necessity of learning a skill without removing the value of learning it. There's something profoundly satisfying about sharing a skill you've spent your whole life developing, and I think our need to express ourselves and connect with others will only become more important as technology advances.

There's a lot more to developing a craft than simply producing an end result. It develops discipline. It gives you a feeling of being capable. And most importantly, it gives you a deep sense of purpose.

The Value of Art

So what happens when the skills we've spent our lives developing become even harder to make a living from?

The deep irony, of course, is that making a living as an artist has always been difficult, in part because the arts have never been necessary.

We don't need art to survive. We can live without music, literature, dance, theatre or paintings. But while the arts may not be necessary for survival, they are necessary for a life accented with beauty and meaning.

Art has enormous emotional and cultural value, but much of that value is difficult to translate into money. A song can change someone's life, but that doesn't mean they'll pay to listen to it. A novel might shape the way someone sees the world, but its author could still struggle to pay the rent. People consume art constantly, but that doesn't necessarily translate into financial security for the people creating it.

Sure, technology has made it easier than ever to access music, films, books and images without paying for them, but the problem was already there long before AI came along. Throughout history, those who create art have often depended on the support of patrons, and in some ways it's no different now. When your livelihood depends on other people choosing to support your work, financial security is never guaranteed. AI may make that problem worse, but I don't think we can blame it for a society that has always struggled to put a price on creativity.

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Whatever the future holds for the creative industries, I know that I want to keep learning and creating and challenging myself. I want to become a better musician, writer and artist. And I want to use the tools available to me to overcome the limitations of what I can do on my own.

And personally, I'd rather find out what AI can make possible than spend my time worrying about what it might replace.