K-pop stars using AI to write music? UAE fans debate as Seventeen's Woozi bashes rumours

A major media outlet reported that the band has 'experimented' with AI to produce a music video which may also have an AI-generated production

K-pop's unique identity

Abid, an avid fan of the band, said, "Honestly, it usually is a bit disheartening to realise that a specific art that you like has been [created] by AI."

"I don’t really like the concept of using AI when it comes to creating music because I think it takes away the emotions or feelings that one expresses through art." She added that it is difficult to relate to the music when you are aware that a certain lyric or tune was made by a computer, "which does not feel these very ‘human’ emotions".

Dubai resident Anchala Prem, who works as a Cognitive Skills Trainer, similarly said, "It feels like if the machines are taking over humans' ability to create, then what does make us unique?"

Abid believes that true creativity lies with humans. "I believe that our human brain alone is and has been capable of enchanting the world of art for centuries, hence the use of AI is more important in the field of research and science; things that make our lives easier."

Eighteen-year-old Sumana Madichetty, seconded the thought, "To hear that Maestro, which is one of my favourite songs, may possibly be AI generated (even partially) is bizarre to me since I’ve also heard that a lot of Seventeen songs have been written and produced by the artists themselves."

Sumana Madichetty

Talking about how K-pop artists perform with creative and unique styles, she added, "I'm sure that AI will continue to grow and be integrated in a lot of fields. However, I do believe that the involvement of AI in the music industry will definitely affect how authentic and new a song is, especially in K-pop."

Prem also said that her initial interest in the world of K-pop stemmed from how the "music was completely different and unique to what we usually hear from artists from the western hemisphere that have been considered 'mainstream"'.

Anchala Prem

"The 'benevolence' of AI is of course still a topic of discussion, especially when it comes to art," she added.

Going back to why Seventeen used the tech, Abid said, "Woozi has also talked about experimenting with AI because he wanted to protect their own unique identity."

"At the end of the day, music should be a form of therapy, whether it’s a listener or a creator, and a human involved can only bring that out," Prem said, wrapping up her thoughts.

Tech being 'demonised'

The flip side, however, argues that if the rest of us use AI wisely, then why shouldn't artists. Husna Murad, a 24-year-old Carat (Seventeen fan), said that the tech is being "demonised" because people think of it as a "replacement" to humans than an "assistance". She also doesn't see what the issue with using the technology could be.

"AI, in every single sector, is getting a really bad rep. Even if they did use the technology, I think it's alright, as long as they are not lying about it. In fact, even I use AI in my work to help with ideation. It helps me get over any creative blocks, so I don't see why it is an issue."

Dubai resident Caryn Weilson had a similar line of thought, if the artist's audience is happy and "still feeling connected to the music", she sees no cause for concern. "As long as the artist is staying true to their art, I think AI as a means to achieve their creative goal is okay!"

'Party tricks, not tools'

As fans go head-to-head on the issue, this musician has a different take. He says that as the tech is still developing, AI's current applications feel more like "novelty party tricks than true creative tools".

Joel Ison, a musician, musical director, producer and audio engineer at the BarCoe Studio in Abu Dhabi, said to Khaleej Times, "By speeding up certain aspects of the music production process, AI can free us to focus on the more nuanced and innovative parts of our work."

However, he too, talks about the "human connection" which makes music special. "Philosophically speaking, musicians should seek to be as much a part of the process as they can. Ultimately, the human connection is what makes music special; transforming our experiences into a song that others can relate to, is not something AI can ever replicate."

As a musician, he says finally, "The challenge [is] to integrate AI in a way that enhances and accelerates our creativity, allowing us to push the boundaries of what we can achieve while maintaining the human touch that makes music truly resonate.”

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