In an era propelled by relentless technological evolution, the trajectory of our future is firmly set towards a realm where artificial intelligence (AI) intertwines with our daily lives, reshaping the landscape of products and services. ALSO READ: Rwanda to become hub for AI research in Africa During the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, January 18, experts examined the paradigm shift propelled by technological advancements towards a future dominated by AI-augmented products and services. The dialogue unfolded at a panel session titled Gen AI: Boon or Bane for Creativity? Generative AI focuses on creating new and original content, chat responses, designs, synthetic data or even deepfakes and the panelists contemplated its impending impact on creativity and cognition, with a specific focus on the ability to foster new forms of artistic expression. The discussion surrounding Generative AI's potential to elevate creativity and unlock unprecedented forms of artistic expression has been a central theme since the emergence of ChatGPT. While the roots of this discourse predate ChatGPT, it was undeniably a watershed moment that intensified the ongoing conversation. ALSO READ: AI has potential to create jobs with higher economic value, says ICT minister Participating in this dialogue was Krista Kim, a contemporary artist renowned for integrating light, digital technology, and sound into her artistic works. As the Co-Founder of Creative Immersive Production Studio, 0Studio.ai, Kim has been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of artistic innovation. Additionally, she is behind the Techism Movement, a philosophy that positions technological innovation as a legitimate form of artistic expression. Through this movement, Kim advocates for the promotion of digital humanism, encouraging fellow artists to embrace and celebrate the intersection of technology and culture in a digital era. In envisioning the future landscape of creativity intertwined with generative AI, Kim expressed her belief in a forthcoming convergence between AI, spatial computing, the metaverse, and blockchain. She anticipates the transformative potential of AI in breaking down communication barriers across diverse realms. Beyond facilitating communication among human beings in different languages and locations, Kim sees the prospect of extending this connectivity to other species. ALSO READ: WEF: Vibrant private sector critical to AfCFTA success - Kagame This includes the idea of communicating with plants, minerals, and even various animal species like whales and dolphins. “Scientists are actively utilizing AI to decode the language of animals, opening up vast possibilities for creative integration with the natural world.” Kim envisions this convergence as a new transcendent medium, offering boundless opportunities for innovative expression. Moreover, she explores the concept of integrating diverse expertise with the help of AI. “The accessibility of AI brains belonging to experts worldwide, present scenarios where, for instance, a neuroscientist seeking to embark on an art project could collaborate with an AI artist expert.” This collaboration, she believes, holds immense potential for the future, especially when coupled with a focus on sustainability. In essence, her vision extends beyond conventional boundaries, foreseeing a future where generative AI serves as a catalyst for unparalleled creativity, connectivity, and problem-solving across a spectrum of disciplines. What Generative AI can do for music and content creators? Daren Tang, Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), shed light on the role of Generative AI in the realm of music. “I used to play jazz piano professionally in law school, so that's remained close to my heart. I understand the challenges of musicians and creators. And I think in the music sphere, musicians have always embraced technology. You think about the time when 'Blue Monday' was dropped by the band New Order in the early '80s. In his perspective, Tang emphasizes the historical embrace of technology by musicians, citing iconic moments such as the introduction of synthesizers and electronic music, exemplified by the release of Blue Monday by New Order in the early 80s. He perceives the potential of AI as a valuable tool for musicians, an extension of their ongoing journey to explore new forms of musical expression. While acknowledging that the integration of AI into music creation is not a new phenomenon, Tang highlights a recent explosion of AI's impact on the industry. Notable examples include The Beatles releasing a new song, Then and Now, crafted with the assistance of AI. “Howard Jones, you know, the music we grew up with in the '80s, said that we should not fear AI but use it, you know, and he has created a whole chorus in the latest song using AI. Grimes said that if you use AI to create new music, let me know about these creations, and we can share the royalties. So, musicians are already beginning to react to AI and use AI as a way of enhancing, augmenting their creative capabilities,” Tang said. Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube Inc., emphasized the collaborative nature of AI and human creativity. Mohan discussed YouTube's efforts in utilizing AI as a tool to enhance artistic expression, citing initiatives such as the music AI incubator where artists experiment with new AI tools. He presented examples of AI-driven features like Dream Screen, enabling creators to bring imaginative concepts to life instantly. So, if you're a creator, you might just say to YouTube, 'Hey YouTube, give me a video with a dragon flying through Broadway in Manhattan.' From a creator's perspective, it would have probably taken days or weeks worth of work to actually create it. Now, it's happening instantaneously, so they can take that video to the next level of creativity. In a way, where these tools are now accessible to people that otherwise wouldn't have even been able to dream about that type of concept. And so, that's the type of explosion that I expect to see on platforms like YouTube, of course, but really kind of throughout the world as a result of this technology, Mohan said. The experts emphasized that AI should be viewed as a tool to enhance human creativity rather than a replacement. According to them, the advancements in AI, while a recent phenomenon, reflect the larger trend of machines performing tasks faster and more efficiently.
