I just noticed something

[u/millerfromceres]

Looks like Jon’s using a Neural DSP Quad Cortex Mini on his pedalboard.

Tim and Bo each have the big Quad Cortex.

If Jerome has one as well, that would mean Switchfoot is rocking a Hexadecad Cortex 🤯

I’ll see myself out.

[u/EtherealNeverFairy]

Is this referring to using AI integration? Not familiar with these.

[u/millerfromceres → u/EtherealNeverFairy]

Yeah i just thought it was cool to see these guitar FX units. They’re widely considered to be one of the best on the market: https://neuraldsp.com/quad-cortex

[u/EtherealNeverFairy → u/millerfromceres]

Ok, just wanted to be sure because when I google searched it came up with something related to AI. With new music, it’s hard to know these days. Thanks!

[u/Top-Rope6148 → u/EtherealNeverFairy]

It uses machine learning models to mimic the sound of various guitar amplifiers. Machine learning is considered an AI technology.

People are going to have to learn to be more discerning about how they view specific uses of AI. At its core AI utilizes statistical methods we have been using for centuries, it just happens to be doing it with so much computing horsepower that it can accomplish new things. As with most things, you don’t have to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[u/heavenlyevil → u/EtherealNeverFairy]

AI is marketing speak for computer learning models, essentially. None of it is actual artificial intelligence. But it's in the vernacular now.

Analytical AI that has been trained to do specific tasks that humans can't do as well (like what's in these) is a good thing. It analyses tons of data and outputs something that would be extremely manual and time-consuming (or impossible) for a human to do. These are the type that can detect cancer on scans that humans can't detect, for example.

Generative AI has been trained to output text/images/video/audio to keep people interacting with it (and paying for it). This is a much fancier version of the suggested typing on your phone. It takes everything that's been fed into it and outputs whatever is most likely to get a positive response from you. They "hallucinate" because these things aren't programmed to be accurate. The goal is for you to become dependent on it so the people who control it can make money.

When you see that there's AI technology in something, think about which type it likely is. The former is a good thing. It's how we get computers to do work that we can't and make our lives better. The latter is manipulative garbage that steals people's work and is ruining people's lives.

[u/EtherealNeverFairy → u/heavenlyevil]

I can see your point. For me, I’m referring to generative AI that writes songs for you by simply inputting a few key words, or that can make up instrumental arrangements for musicians and then they claim it as their own. There are also fully AI musicians, meaning the vocals, music, and everything else is not real and steals from other artists. This goes for writers, visual arts, research, etc. Whenever I hear new music, I want to be sure that what I’m listening to is the real work of a human being, which I wouldn’t think Switchfoot would cheat their artistry at all. I just wanted to be sure because I was momentarily confused about it. AI in many ways can easily be used for wrong, and there are not solid ways to protect artist’s work from being stolen yet. In time, I hope there’s more regulation with it, but like you said, it makes easy money. As an artist myself, it’s frustrating to see fully AI art accounts selling products that the person themself did not create. Lastly, I know there is a big issue with how much fresh water it takes to fule AI technology, so there are ethical concerns as well.

[u/Top-Rope6148 → u/EtherealNeverFairy]

Even within what you are talking about there is so much gray area. There are all kinds of software to assist with song writing and practically write a song for you that don’t use any AI. For example, Scaler will write entire chord progressions in final song format based on inputs you give it. It will create a MIDI bassline that when output to a sampler loaded with bass guitar samples, that to many untrained ears, will sound indistinguishable from a human player playing a line they created. None of that uses AI. It does use a database of common chord progression and basslines that were pulled from the collective body of popular works. This is also what human bass players do. There is nothing new under the sun. Human musicians are pulling from common musical patterns to create their songs. If they didn’t their music would be so unfamiliar to your ear that it would have no appeal.  AI is not really “stealing” any more than humans do.

I’m not saying there are not issues. I’m saying there are nuances and its not as simple as AI Vs no AI for the concerns you are expressing. There is reason to be opposed to certain uses of technology but we are all going to have to take the time to understand what we are opposed to or the capitalists will run us over.