Pop stars are irreplaceable, even with AI

Recently, videos of AI generated songs being “covered” by artists who have never sang them have been going viral.

In short, AI bots are able to produce tracks of artists singing songs they have never sang, and the results are scarily accurate.

This development in music technology has sparked conversation about the future of music.

Will pop stars be replaced by AI bots? Will anyone actually have to sing their music?

While this AI technology is impressive, the music industry and our beloved pop stars will undoubtedly remain stable for a very long time.

One of the most amazing parts of music is the ability for people to connect to it emotionally. If robots write and produce all songs, that emotion in music that so many people are drawn to will disappear completely and many people’s reasons for listening to music will no longer exist.

AI-generated music also cuts off the ability to introduce new artists. Plenty of people enjoy exploring new artists and bands. Because AI can only replicate a limited number of voices, the music industry could no longer push new artists, thus making a large dent in the industry’s profit.

Arguably the biggest reason against AI is it could never fully replace real musicians in live events. For a lot of people, the best part of listening to an artist is getting to go to their concerts and see them perform live.

If real people were no longer writing, producing and singing their songs, concerts would go extinct. The emotional connection between artists and an audience cannot be replicated by a robot.

While AI will most likely be used to create new melodies and beats, we don’t have to worry about robots replacing our favorite musicians any time soon.

While I do agree that banning TikTok could have negative consequences, states should have the right to ban the app, especially when it concerns national security. It sets a precedent to pass new and stronger laws against cyber attacks. TikTok, in particular, has evidence of releasing personal information from average citizens. In a leaked audio of a meeting, China-based TikTok employees have repeatedly said that they have been accessing this data. Aside from security concerns, TikTok was fined for illegally processing the data of 1.4 million children under 13 without parental consent. With all its potential to harm in mind, there should be action taken that protects the data of citizens. While banning the app may seem abrupt to many, states do have the right to take action when it threatens the security of their citizens.

No

Rumored TikTok bans have been in circulation since the Trump administration and the beginning of quarantine. They all have one thing in common: impracticality. Realistically, there isn’t a feasible way to impose bans like these, unless states are administering the devices themselves or are in control of the devices’ settings. The driving force behind these bans is security concerns toward the Chinese government and its access to information about users in other countries. However, when users sign up for any social media, regardless of its origin, they sign an agreement to share certain information with the company behind the screen. Not only is it of the users’ discretion where and when they share their information through social media, but it is also a freedom we relish in the age of technology we live in.