Algorithm: What is the future of music in the age of AI?

The AI revolution is also impacting music. Today, anyone can become a musician by using artificial intelligence technologies. So, what futures await music in the age of AI? This is the question explored during Algorythmes, a discussion presented in a live connected broadcast between the Quai des Savoirs in Toulouse and the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) in Montreal, in collaboration with Mutek and the French Institute.

Like all major technological revolutions that have preceded it, the use of AI in music carries immense creative potential but also brings a host of social, cultural, and even existential upheavals. These new techniques allow anyone to create a song or even an entire symphony using just a few ‘prompts.’ However, the aesthetic value of these automated productions is open to question. Additionally, the way AI systems are trained is often ethically problematic: private companies show little regard for copyright and use the work of hundreds of thousands of artists without their consent, with no compensation provided to the creators.

In response to these issues, the City of Toulouse, recently named a UNESCO Creative City for Music, along with the Quai des Savoirs, proposed a collaborative event with the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) in Montreal. This exchange aims to provide a series of insights into the challenges posed by the AI revolution in music.

This event will take place on October 29 at 2 PM (Montreal time) and 8 PM (Toulouse time), connecting Quai des Savoirs in Toulouse and the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) in Montreal via a live panel broadcast worldwide by the French Institute. It will allow participants to explore the future of music in the age of algorithms. Using an innovative setup, the event will connect audiences in Toulouse and Montreal in real time, encouraging them to address their reflections on AI to various experts from both sides of the Atlantic. The exchange will be enriched by contributions from DJs, artists, journalists, legal experts, and scientists.

Speakers:

• Bernard Lubat and Marc Chemillier (Toulouse), Gabriel Vigliensioni (Montreal): researchers and musicians
• Dennis Kastrup (Montreal): music journalist
• Pia Baltazar (Montreal): Director of Research-Creation at SAT

Please note that this event will be presented solely in French.