In the year 2073, the art world has undergone a revolution, embracing and valuing neurodiverse artists who were previously overlooked and labeled as “disabled.” These artists bring unique perspectives and talents to the forefront, challenging the traditional notions of creativity and pushing the boundaries of art.
One such artist is Jirau, a rapper with Trisomy-21, named after a pioneering fashion model. Jirau is not only an inspiration for overcoming barriers but is also an exceptionally talented lyricist. His rhymes carry a powerful message, capturing the essence of his experiences and thoughts. In the past, AI algorithms largely ignored neurodiverse artists during their early training sets, but now, their contributions are recognized and celebrated.
Another notable artist in this revolutionary era is DJ Congolia. Born and raised near the Congo rainforest, Congolia creates original beats exclusively from the sounds of living things in his surroundings. His music is a beautiful homage to the rich biodiversity of the rainforest and a testament to his deep connection with nature.
But perhaps the most intriguing artist of all is Dice Benoit. Based in Minnesota, Dice is a virtual performer, entering a virtual auction with her avatar to pitch her unique talent. Stating that she can rhyme about anything, Dice grabs the attention of potential buyers. Her versatility and ability to adapt her style to various topics make her a highly sought-after artist. Companies can take her data and create rap music of almost any kind, be it a summer love ballad or a political campaign slogan-song.
Dice Benoit’s ability to cover a diverse range of topics is not uncommon in this era. Gone are the days when hip hop artists felt the need to center their music around misogyny or material consumption. AI has advanced to a point where it can convincingly generate songs with such content, rendering old ideas obsolete. The pursuit of novelty and fresh data has become the norm, catering to the diverse interests and preferences of people worldwide. Consequently, new rap subgenres have flourished, encompassing subjects like Angolan literature, astrobiology, cyber theft, historical figures like Harriet Tubman and Jack Kerouac, Maori history, Santeria, sex work, space tourism, Sufism, and many more.
Language barriers, once a hindrance to global artistic collaboration, have also been shattered by AI. Through instantaneous translation, a rapper can generate rhymes in one language and have them translated into a hundred others. While some challenges in translation remain, AI has optimized the process, ensuring that the music remains enjoyable despite the linguistic differences. Rappers from the west side of Chicago, for example, now have large fan bases across the globe who can listen to their lyrics seamlessly translated into Bengali, Tagalog, or Ibo.
The AI ecosystem rewards human artists who are productive generalists, capable of generating a vast amount of quality training data. Musicians who excel in playing multiple instruments can provide training data for an entire orchestra, allowing them to enhance their financial gains. In the realm of hip hop, artists like Dice Benoit, who can effortlessly rhyme about a myriad of topics, are poised to achieve great success.
However, this new perspective is not without controversy. Some argue that the art world has lost the specialization that had dominated it for centuries. The rise of AI technology has rendered this perspective less popular, as it has become evident that no human can specialize in the way AI can. The world learned this lesson when IBM’s Deep Blue defeated chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. AI’s capacity for specialization surpasses human limitations, allowing for unprecedented creativity and innovation.
In the year 2073, the art world has transformed into a diverse and dynamic landscape, embracing neurodiverse artists, breaking language barriers, and rewarding those who can generate unique and compelling training data. The exponential growth of rap subgenres reflects the ever-evolving interests and preferences of a global audience, enabled by AI’s advanced capabilities. Surely, more exciting developments and artists are yet to emerge, pushing the boundaries of what we perceive as art and creativity.