The widespread adoption of AI is having a massive impact on society, but those bearing the brunt of it are artists whose original works are being replaced by the derivative, average products of generative AI.
While most of the industry's attention has focused on how generative AI impacts visual artists, video game composers, and musicians are wrongly overlooked. With the rise of AI bands that are almost indistinguishable from the real thing to an untrained ear, there is a very real possibility that video game soundtracks will become derivative, losing the distinct magic that defines the entire gaming experience.
For this reason, I couldn’t help but ask Cédric Menendez, main composer of the Edge of Memories soundtrack who has collaborated with Yasunori Mitsuda (Xenoblade) and Emi Evans (NieR), about generative AI and how it is changing the landscape for composers and musicians.
"I believe that viewing AI as a tool is a positive thing, but not as a tool for generating art. While it might be useful for rough drafts, the musical quality is still far, far behind that of real composers. And when it comes to vocalists, it’s even worse, in my opinion," Cédric Menendez said. "I think people will soon move past this 'AI hype.' AI is simply a means for certain individuals to maximize profits by removing humans from the creative process, but it makes no sense. Art cannot exist without humanity."
Being a musician myself, albeit not professionally, I find it hard to disagree with the Edge of Memories composer. While AI can certainly assist during the early stages of the creative process, it can never replace a real human being. Hopefully, more people within the industry will realize what is really happening and push back against the current hype, which threatens to homogenize art in the worst possible way.
Check back in the next few days for our full interview with the Edge of Memories Soundtrack Team.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
