- I actually needed to hate the AI-generated variations of the BTS’ members voices.
- Then I heard AI Jungkook sing “Blinding Lights.”
- And it was actually, actually good.
Two weeks in the past, I heard BTS member Jungkook overlaying “Blinding Lights,” one in every of my favourite songs from The Weeknd.
I questioned when he’d recorded and launched the duvet. Then I spotted it wasn’t Jungkook.
It was AI Jungkook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvwovfHOwOk
I needed to hate it. It wasn’t Jungkook, it was an uncanny-valley AI voice. On the one hand, it is wildly regarding — contemplating the privateness issues, want for consent, and rampant copyright points surrounding the usage of AI-generated voices.
However it additionally sounded nice.
Then YouTube’s algorithm did its factor, and subsequent factor I knew, I used to be listening to AI Jungkook, V, Jimin sing The Weeknd’s “Starboy.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5nRMnPZkI
After which the Rihanna covers began kicking off. The voices on the monitor had been shut sufficient to the true deal to sway me — a self-professed ARMY who’s been listening to BTS for the reason that 2015 launch of “The Most Stunning Second in Life, Pt. 1.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSD0ThHv0pU
The covers aren’t good. At instances, the AI voices are off-beat and glitch out.
On this AI cowl of Charlie Puth’s “Consideration,” for instance, AI Jimin will get tripped up on the road “I do know that costume is karma” — a comforting reminder that AI instruments are nonetheless removed from good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_btm7-Dbz58
So far as I am involved, AI BTS won’t ever substitute the true band. A workforce of human beings — not machines — made banger hits like “Spring Day” and “Save Me.” In the event you’ve been to a BTS live performance and witnessed the electrical energy within the air — a machine cannot replicate that. Music is a deeply human expertise. And actual voices matter.
However for now, excuse me whereas I loop AI Jungkook’s “Starboy” once more. It is too good to surrender.