Arabic version: مكان محلي يواجه ردود فعل سلبية بسبب عرض موسيقي مدعوم بالذكاء الاصطناعي

A live music venue in Newtown has issued an apology following a backlash over its decision to include an AI-generated act in an event aimed at showcasing emerging artists. According to ABC News, the event, titled Mixed Bag, featured the act Afro Charles, which utilizes AI-generated content in its performances.

Local musician Aidan Sammut expressed his outrage on social media after discovering that Afro Charles was part of the lineup. He described his feelings of shock and disgust, stating that it felt like an insult to be grouped with an AI act in a showcase meant for human artists. Sammut emphasized that the opportunity given to the AI act could have been better allocated to a human band.

Damian Amamoo, the creator of Afro Charles, defended the use of AI in his music, explaining that the act consists of two AI avatars and himself as the human vocalist. He noted that the use of AI was clearly communicated on their social media platforms. However, the booking agency, Good Intent, acknowledged their oversight in not verifying this information prior to the event and stated they do not support AI-generated music.

In response to the incident, Bootleggers, the venue hosting the event, has revised its booking process to explicitly inquire whether artists utilize AI in their performances. Additionally, the venue donated the bar profits from the night to Support Act, a charity aiding those in the music industry, as a gesture of goodwill.

The controversy has sparked broader discussions within the music community about the role of AI in live performances and the potential impact on human musicians. Sammut voiced concerns about the future of live music, fearing that AI acts could undermine opportunities for emerging artists, while Amamoo viewed AI as a tool for creativity, akin to other technological advancements in music production.