Moriyama performing with the orchestra. An AI created by Yamaha motors can create piano music from a human's dance moves. (via Yamaha)
Amazon.com introduced to the world to Alexa, inside the smart speaker called Echo Alexa was one of the first commercially obtainable AI, or Artificial Intelligences. Like many electronic characters the world interact with, Alexa almost seems like a person; she can even sing a song from her short repertoire on demand. How did we reach this point? It all started with the idea that computers could learn human behaviors or attitudes by studying a few situations and instances. While AIs has stayed very practical so far, a Japanese company, Yamaha, has pushed the boundaries and made an AI create music.
Yamaha, a company mostly known for its motorbikes, has established itself as an expert in the making of motorized vehicles of all sorts and for all surfaces, except cars. According to the company's website, Yamaha was initially Nippon Gakki, a company focused on manufacturing musical instruments and electronics. After taking over his forefathers' company, Nippon Gakki's 4th president and Yamaha's first president, Genichi Kawakami saw an opportunity in expanding the company into the field of motorcycles. Then, it should not come as a surprise that Yamaha is now exploring the possible use of technology with musical instruments. The current president of the company, Takuya Nakata, sure stayed faithful to growing and expanding company.
With the cooperation of an accomplished dancer, Kaiji Moriyama, Yamaha's research and development team set up the experiment that led to a piano performance attended by a select audience. Moriyama was connected to a piano through some electrodes placed on his back, wrists and feet. Basically, the AI infused piano was to read the movements of Moriyama and translate them into notes of music. On the first day of the experiment, the notes sounded more like cacophony. However, after 2 weeks of trial and errors, Moriyama was able to design a dance routine that the AI-piano transformed into sound music. From the video of the event, it is obvious that it was not the best song ever produced, despite the orchestra Sharoun Ensemble accompanying the piano. Yet, one will be forced to acknowledge that the experience was successful, especially in the short time frame it was put together.
Letting a super software create music could revolutionize the industry of entertainment as we know it today. Yet, it would be unwise to rejoice too soon about the new application. After all, there have been cases where the AI has developed a mind of its own. Maybe Yamaha should make sure the software does not damage the dancer's body in an attempt to evolve too fast. Nonetheless, the situation is not that worrisome. Companies that were working on some versions of humanoid and met with challenges are taking measures to control the rhythm of the evolution of their creations. In other words, the world might never experience an AI invasion or "coup."
But, here is a question Yamaha probably did not think of: who will be the talent to applaud at the end of the performance? Is the piano a genius? Is the dancer brilliant for creating a choreography that an instrument can recite? Or is it the creator of the AI who must receive the congratulations? Every creative part certainly deserves recognition, but should the AI be even praised at all? If yes, what will happen to the traditional piano players? Will they be out of a job? This situation is very similar to that of the use of computer compared to the use of pen and paper: most people don't even carry a pen anymore because it feels inconvenient to write things down. Furthermore, in schools, there are students who can only print when handwriting. Cursive or any type of calligraphy has disappeared. Maybe technology is taking away cultures and skills while improving lives and lifestyles.
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