On the Media Inside the Artificial Intelligence Hype Cycle. And How AI is Making Music
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Jul 11, 2025 Ed Zitron, tech industry commentator and host of the Better Offline podcast, discusses the AI hype cycle and its overblown narratives, particularly in the context of the U.S.-China tech race. Mark Henry Phillips, a composer and former producer, shares his insights on the existential threat AI poses to musicians, exploring the implications of AI-generated music. Their conversation raises questions about creativity, job security, and the potential for AI to reshape the music industry as it imitates human artistry.
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Cheap Innovation Exposes AI Hype
- The AI hype is largely driven by narrative and funding rather than breakthrough innovation.
- DeepSeek proved cheaper, more efficient AI models are possible, challenging US dominance claims.
Limitations of Large Language Models
- Large language models rely on huge amounts of internet data but can't solve fundamental flaws like hallucinations.
- These models guess text but lack true understanding and won't replace high-stakes enterprise applications soon.
Generative AI is Not True Intelligence
- ChatGPT and similar generative AI are misleadingly called "intelligent" but are mostly sophisticated pattern recognition.
- True AI applications exist but generative AI is mostly hype and lacks autonomous intelligence.