Episode 02: Who’s Making AI Music?

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to any computer system designed to simulate some aspect of human intelligence. Think: Google search, smart navigation apps, self-driving cars, or Siri. One surprising area in which AI is beginning to attract attention? Music.

In Episode 02 of To Be Designed, we explore some of the social implications behind AI-generated music. What is considered “music”? Does AI cause us to rethink the concept of creativity? Who is responsible for AI-generated art? Come with us as we try to answer these questions through a discussion about the AI rapper FN Meka and a conversation with generative artist William Fields.

*Disclaimer: This episode was produced before the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Learn more from this Forbes article.   

This episode was produced by Quynh-Nhi Tran and co-hosted by Sriman Narayanan and Leah Parsons. Writing and reporting by Sriman Narayanan. Co-writing and editing by Nico Petry-Mitchel and Carolyn Hagler. Engineering by Mary Shirk. Marketing by Leah Parsons. Music by Drew McComas. Special thanks to William Fields, Mark Shumacher, and Casey Russell. 

To Be Designed is sponsored by the Segal Design Institute at Northwestern University.