Dear Editor,

In the ever-evolving landscape of creativity, where tradition meets technology, the call for artificial intelligence (AI) integration into the arts is a delicate one.

On one hand, AI promises an endless horizon of possibilities that may enhance and transform artistic practices. On the other, some prominent voices in the music industry, like Sting, Elton John, and Paul McCartney, have raised alarms about the potential risks that AI poses to the very soul of human creativity. Rather than resisting AI, Jamaicans, especially film-makers, music producers, and game developers, should embrace it as an opportunity to empower their craft.

The need for learning prompt engineering to navigate AI tools effectively has never been clearer. With the right knowledge, the creative industry can leverage AI to produce works of art more cost-effectively, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible while protecting the essence of human artistry.

The music world has seen a growing battle between the old guard and the new technologies shaping the industry. Recently, some of the world’s largest music labels filed lawsuits against AI-powered music generators, such as Suno and Udio, accusing them of violating copyright laws.

These AI services allegedly “copied” decades’ worth of popular music tracks to train their models, using these vast archives of sound to generate new songs. Critics argue that these AI tools bypass the traditional channels of artistic creation, ultimately exploiting artistes’ work without consent or compensation.

While these legal battles are significant, they reveal an urgent truth: AI is here, and it’s reshaping the way music is made, distributed, and consumed.

At the heart of these disputes is the question of authorship, who owns the rights to a piece of music created with the assistance of AI? The lawsuits filed by major music labels in the US against Suno and Udio underscore this issue, as both services have yet to disclose their training data, raising concerns about the unlicensed use of copyrighted material.

While the debate rages on, musicians have warned against embracing AI-generated songs entirely, fearing that these tools could overshadow human creativity.

But rather than shutting the door on AI, the challenge for Jamaica’s artistes is to ensure that their voices are heard in this new age of technological creativity. While the concerns raised are valid, the real opportunity lies in harnessing AI to complement, rather than replace, human ingenuity.

On a global scale, the conversation around AI-generated music has extended to other regions, with the Korea Music Copyright Association taking a significant stand by banning the registration of AI-generated musical works. This ban reflects the growing unease over the potential for AI to replace traditional musicians.

Despite these legal and ethical concerns, a breakthrough has emerged: Artistes can still claim copyright for works made with AI assistance. This shift opens the door for creators to use AI as a tool to enhance their artistry while ensuring that they retain ownership of their work.

Locally, Jamaica’s minister of industry, investment and commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill, has rightly pointed out that Jamaicans need to prepare for the rise of AI. The creative industries stand to benefit immensely from the integration of AI technologies. For Jamaica’s youth, this represents an unparalleled opportunity to be at the forefront of the AI revolution.

As Minister Hill rightly suggested, preparing for AI isn’t just about survival, it’s about thriving in a world where technology and creativity are intertwined.

Horatio Deer

horatiodeer2357@gmail.com