#155 AI Music is Not Music - Adam Neely
Summary
Music theorist Adam Neely discusses the ethical and artistic implications of generative AI like Suno, arguing that it threatens musical craft by automating idea generation without consent. He contrasts the "de-skilling" effect of AI with the intentional labor of traditional methods like sampling, emphasizing that true artistry relies on embodied skill and human connection rather than mere taste. While acknowledging AI’s potential as a demoing tool for non-musicians, Neely warns that relying on it undermines the developmental value of mastering musical disciplines.
Topics discussed
Introduction and American Express sponsorship
Adam Neely's background and the definition of music
Historical disruptions: Synthesizers and de-skilling
Cheating in music: Drum machines and quantizing
How commercial generative AI like Suno works
The ethics of AI training data and consent
Human learning vs. AI brute force and Huel ad
AI as a creative tool and lowering barriers to entry
The loss of skill and the 'slot machine' effect
The importance of physical feedback in music making
Sampling, hip-hop culture, and LinkedIn ad
Thought experiment: Music after a stroke
The evolutionary and communal need for music
Narcissism, hyper-personalization, and cultural fragmentation
Live performance vs. AI background music
Artistry, imperfection, and the value of human effort
Music as emotional communication and language
AI psychosis and the future of shared culture
The irreplaceable value of live human connection
Context, storytelling, and the Van Gogh analogy
Regulating AI: Licensing and ethical models
Friction in creation and the MIDI analogy
Generational divides and the 'slop' aesthetic
Auto-tune, quantization, and the loss of humanity
Jazz, improvisation, and the joy of live jams
Community, food, and the social aspect of music
Chess analogy and final thoughts on AI music
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