Artificially generated music for the mind, by the mind. | Sweetface magazine
Music is at the very essence of humanity. In other words, music is what makes us human and sets us apart from other species. Our relationship with it has existed since prehistoric times and has evolved throughout history. We have come a long way, and our advancements in technology have set us on a path to transcend our own human capabilities, through the form of artificial intelligence. AI is prominent throughout pop culture and science fiction and although we haven’t quite got to the levels of advancement seen in films such as Ex Machina, that reality is just around the corner. According to gov.uk it is the fastest growing deep technology in the world, with potential to rewrite the rules of entire industries and transform all areas of life.
So, what if music and AI were to combine?
I spoke to Duncan Williams — a Psychoacoustic Professor and musician who has developed an advanced AI program that converts brain waves into music. He described it as “Brain controlled music making.”
The technology works by placing a brain cap (which plugs into a computer) on the user’s head, the electrodes on the cap pick up on small changes within the brain. Patterns in the brain activity are then converted into music reflective of the user’s mental state. The brain then responds to the music creating an endless feedback loop between the user and the AI generated music.
I saw the technology in action at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. On display was a white cap with multiple wires leading out of it. Playing through a speaker was a collection of drums, keyboards, strings, and bass voices working together to create an organ heavy, relaxing atmospheric symphony — the soundtrack to Duncan’s mind.
Duncan assured me the technology is not as “science fiction” as some would believe and is just a few years from becoming mainstream. According to him the technology could have several uses, for example the AI program could aid meditation and act as an introspective tool to compliment personal exploration. He also explained how the cap had previously been tested on a group of musicians with locked-in syndrome, which subsequently allowed them to perform music to their families, while remaining completely paralyzed. On top of this it allows those with little musical knowledge or ability to create their own music, something potentially lifechanging.
Displaying the inner depths of our mind in the form of a composition, the technology has the potential to deepen and enrich our ever-changing relationship with music and the self. We often view AI as frightening and devoid of all humanity, however as demonstrated by this technology perhaps it could enhance our experience, heighten those essential aspects of living and make us feel more ‘human’ than ever before — a transhumanists wet dream.
