Voyager Explored the Worries Surrounding AI in Music

Star Trek’s uncanny knack for speculative fiction and future predicting gets an interesting twist in an episode where music, artificial intelligence, and morality cross paths. We delve into how an episode showcases the impending reality of AI musicians and the effects on artists today.

Star Trek Predicts Chaos in Music’s Future

Renowned for its almost prophetic undertones, Star Trek has often paralleled real-life trends with uncanny precision. The light-hearted comedy of The Simpsons, and the insightful societal critiques of Star Trek, have given way to intriguing futuristic predictions. Some of these predictions come true due to their attentiveness to ongoing trends, while others stay within the confines of the shows.

Music, AI, and Artistic Integrity

In an episode titled “Virtuoso” from season six, The Doctor, an advanced hologram program capable of learning and adaptation, introduces the concept of music to the alien race, Qomar. Qomar, previously unfamiliar with music, becomes entranced by The Doctor’s musical abilities but see him merely as an improvable program rather than an artist.

Planning to live among the Qomar as an accepted musician, The Doctor is taken aback when he realizes the Qomar have used his programming to develop their hologram, competent in musical performances he couldn’t achieve. This leads to a poignant discussion about authenticity, originality, and the essence of real music and art.

The Evolution of Music Through Technologies

This situation mirrors a rising issue with AI technologies as they threaten artist’s ability to earn for their creations. Will AI replace human artists, or can they co-exist? The Doctor’s story reframes this inquiry within the fields of music and art, questioning the ethical implications of using a pioneer’s work as a blueprint for improvements, then disregarding the original.

The episode presents potential decisions we may face as the evolution of music and art is influenced by advanced technologies. Will we maintain the distinction between human-moderated creation and AI-led production, or blur the boundaries altogether?

Explore more about the fascinating interaction of technology and music, and how it affects artists and their works on MakingMusic101.

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