AI, short for Artificial Intelligence, is on the verge of a widespread revolution that will change the world as radically as the Industrial Revolution, the proliferation of personal computers, or the invention of the cell phone. Several types of AI exist and continue to evolve, adapting to acquire the ability to execute complicated functions that, until recently, required human intelligence. AI apps enable computers to reason and make decisions. This is a dramatic change from previous computer programs, which could perform complex mathematical calculations instantaneously and store vast amounts of information, but were incapable of thinking or planning.
Generative Artificial Intelligence, or GenAI, is a type of AI that’s able to create convincingly authentic content including images, audio and text. This is concerning to me and other artists, musicians, filmmakers and writers. Careers in these fields are threatened, as AI produces excellent content much cheaper than humans accomplishing similar results. I’ve heard some startlingly incredible songs that were produced by supplying an AI app with a rough demo, just an off-key vocal with a shaky guitar accompaniment. AI instantly transforms a rough demo into a beautiful, professional-sounding recording. For mere pennies! It’s amazing . . . and scary!
Creating those AI songs required a composer to supply the lyrics and melody, but didn’t require any studio musicians, sound engineers or producers. What about the janitor who cleans the recording studio, or the nearby sandwich shop that sells lunch? All these jobs could be eliminated by AI, and so could the composer, because AI apps can also create lyrics and melodies. Concerned organizations are attempting to forge legislation to curb the job-reducing effects of AI, but they might as well try to stop a tornado with their bare hands. Major entertainment corporations, pressured by their stockholders to maximize profits, aren’t going to lose any sleep over layoffs.
So it’s change with the times or get left behind. I’m going to start using AI to produce demos to pitch to publishers. But song demos are a small fraction of the things that AI will impact. I don’t think that computers are going to attempt to wipe out humans and take over the world anytime soon, like we’ve seen in several sci-fi movies, but AI will restructure everything during the next decade. Nobody really knows exactly what will happen. I’m just thankful that plenty of people still enjoy hearing live music performed by human beings.             
Michael Hahn Band varies in size from a duo to a six-piece band, depending upon the size and budget of the venue. They love to make music for any occasion.

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