18th September 2023, I had the honor of delivering a presentation to the music division of the Norwegian Association of Theatres and Orchestras (NTO).

The central theme of my talk was the convergence of music and artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular emphasis on the untapped opportunities this burgeoning field offers to the worlds of art and music, as opposed to merely delineating its challenges.

I initiated the discussion by offering a rudimentary introduction to AI and machine learning. Subsequently, I focused on two specific methodologies, classification and generation, that I deemed most pertinent to this specialized audience. To elucidate the core principles underlying these areas, I used two straightforward applications that I had developed for demonstration purposes.

I then proceeded to explore existing services and applications that hold particular relevance for choirs and orchestras. I posited that although many commercial AI solutions in the musical domain are still in their infancy and often yield less-than-satisfactory results—especially for those with a nuanced understanding of music—there exists a plethora of intriguing possibilities for professional music ensembles. These opportunities span various facets of musical creation, ranging from composition and performance to engaging audiences in novel ways.

In conclusion, I highlighted the potential of advanced language models like ChatGPT as valuable collaborators in the conceptualization and development of new artistic projects and ideas. By focusing on the yet-to-be-realized possibilities that AI presents, I aimed to provide a balanced perspective that encourages proactive engagement with these emerging technologies.

The slides from the talk (in Norwegian) can be downloaded here.