The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about many debates and discussions. In the world of pop culture, writers, directors, musicians, and painters are all facing the question of how AI will affect their industry. Baz Luhrmann, the Australian writer, director, and producer, is known for his flashy and hyper-realistic style, which has made him a controversial figure when it comes to AI. However, on a particular New York night, he found himself in a former taxi warehouse in Chelsea, talking to a robot named Ai-Da, who is a painter powered by artificial intelligence.
At first glance, it seemed like an odd pairing to have a human, who prides himself on being an artist, chatting with a robot who paints. However, Luhrmann was not fearful of AI. He emphasized that AI is a new technology, and how it will be used, either for creative purposes or nefarious ones, depends on humans. Luhrmann’s discussion with Ai-Da prompted him to ask her if we should be worried about AI taking over the world, to which she replied, ‘absolutely.’ His statement echoes the concern of most people regarding the possibility of AI dominating every aspect of life.
However, Luhrmann clarified that he believes AI cannot replace human creativity, at least not presently. He highlighted that artists, in general, are people who are “self-medicating flaws and chaos within them.” Luhrmann goes on to explain that the thing AI lacks at its center is “random chaos” and “emotion.” AI can impersonate, but it cannot interpret. Austin Butler, who portrayed Elvis Presley in Luhrmann’s movie, did not do an impersonation. Instead, he gave his interpretation of the soul of Elvis Presley.
The problem with AI in pop culture is that without governing laws, beliefs, and ethics to regulate how AI is utilized, it could wreak havoc. For instance, members of the Writers Guild of America are currently on strike as they fear that studios may soon want AI to write scripts for lower fees, which human writers will then fix. Frank Ocean fans are reportedly getting scammed into paying for machine-generated songs. Visual artists also claim that AI models are being trained unfairly on their work.
The debates surrounding the use of AI in pop culture will have long-lasting effects on the industry. Thus, it is crucial to work towards creating laws, beliefs, and ethical principles that guide AI’s usage. The US Copyright Office has its current guidelines, stipulating that only works with human authorship are copyrightable. Without such rules regulating AI’s use, chaos can reign.
Luhrmann has incorporated AI into his work, using it to fade Austin Butler’s face into Elvis Presley’s. This integration demonstrates how AI can be useful in creative works, but it still requires human interpretation and creativity. AI cannot perfectly simulate human chaos, and it is human creativity and interpretation that bring art to life.
In conclusion, AI presents both opportunities and threats to the pop culture industry. It is up to the stakeholders to handle this technology correctly to ensure that it is used ethically and safely. With the right regulation, AI can be integrated into creative works, but it cannot replace human interpretation and creativity. The debates surrounding AI in pop culture will continue as humans strive to find the best ways to utilize this technology.
