SAN MARCOS, Calif. — It seems like every day, Artificial Intelligence surprises us with a new innovation. In this Zevely Zone, I learned about the new app called 'Udio'.
Most people think AI is most useful for writing your next book report but add music making to your list. "Right now is an amazing time with the advent of AI," said Carlsbad resident Chris Maddox.
"As you know I am both an artist and a technologist." Chris works for a major tech company, but on weekends he sings for Jimmy's Buffet and for him Udio is both exciting and terrifying.
"The magic in it is in the execution," said Chris. To put it simply, type any tune you want into Udio, and out pops a song. "I'm using this system like I'm Elton John and it's Bernie Taupin," said Chris.
He wrote the lyrics to a love song for his wife. "I told it to put it in the style of singer-songwriter, Cool Breeze," said Chris who played the song that was created.
It went, "I found my space. I've set my pace. Barefoot dream and endless sands". The Udio app spit out 80 versions of the song.
When I asked whose voice I was hearing sing the song. Chris laughed and said, "AI. It sounds a lot like Jack Johnson to me." Chris says his wife loves the song. But Chris has his concerns for the music industry fallout. "The way I see it is like anything that is a jingle anything that is 90 seconds or less if you have a human creating that it is likely gone," said Chris.
We spoke to Dr. Chris Warren, an SDSU Associate Professor of Digital Composition and Sound Design about the technology. "Fascinating, fascinating, fascinating, I think it's like a new color has been invented," said Dr. Warren.
When I asked him about the potential of musicians losing jobs, "I think that this has been a concern with any technological advancement," said Dr. Warren. "Anybody who thinks they know what's going on with AI, they will be wrong by tomorrow. Here is a tool that lets anyone make music instantly and I strongly recommend everyone try it immediately."
Which is just what I did. I asked Chris Maddox if he could make me a Zevely Zone theme song. "Let's create one," said Chris who typed into Udio the words 'television theme song about reporter Jeff Zevely'. Within seconds, two theme songs emerged.
Option one: A country song that went like this, "With a tip of the hat and smile so keen, Jeff is on the scene. In the glow of the western sun in the Zevely Zone, the tales are told."
"I see a horse slowly plodding. It may not be as upbeat as you're looking for," laughed Chris.
But with the press of a button, artificial antelligence generated a very real possibility with a more upbeat contemporary song that went like this. "He just keeps the stories coming and coming in the Zevely Zone, prime, prime."
"Let the beat drop," said Chris who then tried to jokingly charge me for something that was free to create. "Happy to be here. 50 bucks," he said with his hand out. Chris says for now Udio is free and the content users create is copyright and royalty-free. For a link to the music generator, click here.