Technology paves its way into everyday Life

Technologies like artificial intelligence and NFTs continue to break into new industries this April. The United States government licensed ChatGPT, dancers paired with robots, and music industry leaders have been taking a stand on AI-made music. We are in the midst of figuring out where these technologies fit into our lives, and how they will change our industries. Feelings of uneasiness continue. The following stories illustrate a variety of viewpoints on the ways in which technology has been integrated into new and unique settings as of late.

quantum physicist & ballet dancer combines her two passions

Merritt Moore recently talked with Physics World about her dual career as a scientist and dancer. Her work is living proof that the intermingling of art and science is a catalyst for innovation. In 2020, she began an artist residency at Harvard University’s ArtLab to experiment with choreographed dance with a robot. Moore believes in using technology to discover new tools of expression. She says that creativity sets humans apart from robots in that we have the ability to come up with interesting questions which we can use technology to answer.

U.S. Congress begins Playing with CHATGPT

On April 21st, the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer’s House Digital Services announced that members of Congress had begun internally experimenting with ChatGPT. The House of Representatives obtained 40 licenses for ChatGPT Plus, primarily for creating and summarizing content. An additional source found that the tool is intended to be used for “many day-to-day tasks and key responsibilities within congressional offices.” These “trials” come in the midst of a period of uncertainty about the role of AI in everyday life. There’s the big, looming question of how these politicians will use ChatGPT and how it will change governmental practices.

Nfts fueling the film industry

First Flights, a film production company that utilizes crowdfunding techniques, is among the first in its industry to embrace Web3 and blockchain technology. Using Web3 for fundraising and content distribution, First Flights has the ability to engage with a more niche community of fans, resulting in higher engagement. This technology can help many overcome common obstacles such as funding, intellectual property protection and audience engagement. Filmmaker Julie Pacino, for example, fully funded her film through an NFT drop and became the first filmmaker to do so. Web3 emphasized creative freedom, innovation, and a more direct connection between fans and creators. The hope for many in the industry is that Web3 can be utilized to create a new avenues for success in film.

ai generated music continues to cause controversy

Many music professionals are starting to take note as artificial intelligence disrupts the music world more rapidly. A song titled "Heart on My Sleeve" went viral this past month after being released on April 15th. Fans were shocked to learn that AI technology was used to simulate the music of pop stars Drake and The Weeknd and that the artists themselves didn’t record the song. After receiving nearly 15 million streams, the song was banned from several platforms.

Labels are fighting back against the promotion of AI-generated music. Universal Music Group (UMG) sent a letter to several streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple, asking them to block AI platforms from sifting through their copyrighted material to train the models to output music. Currently, neither Canadian nor U.S. copyright law has a stance on AI-generated art. As the popularity of AI-generated works grows, however, the pressure is on governments to address issues of ownership and proper usage of copywritten works.