AI and the BEATLES - Now And Then

YOU'VE probably read that Paul and Ringo are going to be reuniting with John Lennon for what is being touted as a new Beatles song thanks to remarkable advancements in A.I. and an old demo tape. McCartney, being one the greatest songwriters and most successful recording artists ever, says this about his project and about A.I. by extension: "It's kind of scary but exciting, because it's the future. We'll just have to see where that leads." Kudos to Paul, always an experimental artist as evidenced by his long and eclectic legacy of song.

I have always been a bit of a futurist, excited about technologies and optimistic about where they will take us. Even with A.I. I was quick to defend their use and could foresee the amazing uses in the ever burgeoning World of Tomorrow. I still believe there are many areas where A.I. is going to literally save lives and improve living. But, I'm definitely beginning to see some worrying aspects in my chosen field of interest. Not my job, playing live music for folks, nor simply songwriting/recording etc. I'm concerned about the almost spiritual discipline of Artistry itself.

Imagine you're watching a futuristic sci-fi movie and in one of the scenes a girl of about 7 asks her cute little robot to draw her a picture of a unicorn in a sail boat, flying through the night sky toward a crescent moon. Printing it out almost immediately, the little girl rushes to her mother who proudly sticks it on her futuristic fridge with some space-tape. "That's great honey!" she says, "I'm so proud of you". In another room, her teenage brother sits before his computer and, filled with heartache, asks his A.I. to compose a song about his longing and sadness over a break-up. Moments later, when he plays back the tune, he feels a moment of satisfaction before deleting it, returning to depression. Meanwhile, unable to afford to move out of the house, big brother is up in his attic flat talking to his Replika girlfriend he designed to look like the girl down the street because he feels he's too awkward to approach her. The Replika tells him what he wants to hear and he is somewhat satisfied for the moment. Later, when he is overwhelmed with gloom, he can verbally abuse the Replika with no repercussions, and he feels bigger and can put himself to sleep.

Right now there are Etsy sites with people selling Midjourney created art works, by stylishly quaffed folks who couldn't draw a stick figure. Computer generated music is available to play behind your YouTube video, no musical skills necessary. Gorgeous A.I. generated "influencers" are getting millions of Followers on social media. And here's the kicker...this isn't specifically what concerns me.

The issue to me is the psychological/cultural benefits of art itself. Especially in young minds.

Art is at least as old as humanity. It is so much more than just a salable product. Art is a cry for help, an expression of joy or an outpouring of grief. Art can be communal, a bulwark against oppression, wordless communication between countless people - even through time, a cultural unifier, a rallying cry; or as personal as a means of finding/expressing sympathy, a hedge against depression or a quest for meaning. To create gives purpose.

Art requires an animal to be introspective. It requires a person to try and empathize. It demands to be communicated. It utilizes aspects of our minds that were present before language. It helps us understand that we are individuals and also we are all connected. The desire to create is an impulse, a necessity. Art is and should be, a kind of struggle. Otherwise it is Craft.

A.I. can create some stunning images and Large Language Models can write some very succinct paragraphs, but their primary function is productivity and in that respect they excel. Phenomenally. I use the programs for fun and sometimes for a quicky poster/ad for gigs. But, that's how I know it's not the same as struggling with sketching an image with pencil and paper or sitting with a guitar and spelunking into the Underworld to find the right words and the melody that conveys the best emotion. It's an undertaking that has helped me tremendously because it leads me inside where I can look around, see the shadows of who I may be and what connects me to all the other shadows. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, of meaning, of place in the Universe. And it's a free gift, baked into every one of our brains.

As sure as I know anything, there will always be a girl in her bedroom plunking out a love song on a keyboard as she analyzes her feelings and a boy with his nose in a notebook, jotting down paragraphs, maybe dreaming up a screenplay that reflects his life experience. I do hope that the conveniences provided for us by A.I. and future tech allows for more artists and frees young minds to go inward and find out what's down there, who they are and what life is.

So, for real, I'm looking forward to Sir Paul's new Beatles song. I'm not saying A.I. is all bad or that it can't create some beautiful things.

I guess if I haven't made my point by now, I never will.

PS: My review of "Now And Then":

It was inevitable that something would be done with this demo and it's cool that such a pleasant, nostalgic recording was created from John's rough idea. On a personal note I don't think it was a very adventurous production and it doesn't really give me the chills like Free As A Bird or Real Love. Most of the backing track is what I'd call serviceable but maybe not Beatle-kitsch enough? I don't know. I regret Paul omitted John's "used" and "abused" line as that feels more like John. And lastly, despite people wanting to make the Paul & John bromance more (less?) than it is, this snippet of a song idea was almost certainly about his primary muse, Yoko. Ultimately, I'm glad it exists. Why not?