The Download: Exploring the Impact of AI on Music and a U.S. City’s AI Initiative
While large language models that generate text have surged in popularity over the past three years, another type of AI, based on what are known as diffusion models, is making a significant impact on creative fields. By transforming random noise into coherent patterns, diffusion models can create new images, videos, or speech, guided by text prompts or other input data. The most advanced models can produce outputs that are indistinguishable from human-created work, as well as bizarre, surreal results that feel uniquely nonhuman.
These models are now entering a creative domain that is particularly susceptible to disruption: music. AI music models can generate songs that evoke genuine emotional responses, highlighting the increasing challenge of defining authorship and originality in the age of AI.
A small US city is exploring the use of AI to gauge resident preferences. Bowling Green, Kentucky, with a population of 75,000, recently concluded an experiment in applying AI for civic engagement. An online polling platform, powered by machine learning, sought to understand community desires by allowing residents to contribute ideas for a 25-year vision for their city.
After a month of promotion, the Pol.is portal was launched, enabling residents to anonymously submit ideas (in under 140 characters) and vote on others’ suggestions. However, some researchers question whether this method is a reliable approach to truly capture the wants of a community.
