Establishing counterpoints in the sonic framing of AI narratives

Jennifer Alison Chubb; David Gareth Beer

doi:10.1007/s43681-023-00404-3

Establishing counterpoints in the sonic framing of AI narratives

Jennifer Alison Chubb^*, David Gareth Beer

^*Corresponding author for this work

Sociology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

To challenge dominant representations and conceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this article explores how AI is sonically represented in documentaries. Using a corpus of documentaries alongside expert interviews with sound designers, we explore the ways in which music and sound may influence perception about AI. The notion of ‘counterpoint’ in music theory is developed as a concept to capture and explain how the integrated dynamics of human/machines are represented within these sonic framings. The concept of the counterpoint allows us to reflect on how the relations between AI and the human and how they are sonically framed in ways that separate and blend without recourse to reductive or binary futures, which potentially misrepresent AI capabilities and performance. The article identifies and develops four types of counterpoint in what we refer to as AI sonic narratives. This article provides a framework from which AI could be sonically framed responsibly, which is critical when misinformation and hype impede the public understanding of science.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	679–690
Number of pages	12
Journal	AI and Ethics
Volume	4
Early online date	12 Dec 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-023-00404-3
Publication status	Published - Aug 2024

Bibliographical note

Keywords

AI
MUSIC
REPRESENTATION
NARRATIVES
ETHICS

Access to Document

10.1007/s43681-023-00404-3Licence: CC BY

Establishing counterpoints in the sonic framing of AI narratives
© Crown 2023
Final published version, 635 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{ccc960ab6133498eb840717fe6a15042,

title = "Establishing counterpoints in the sonic framing of AI narratives",

abstract = "To challenge dominant representations and conceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this article explores how AI is sonically represented in documentaries. Using a corpus of documentaries alongside expert interviews with sound designers, we explore the ways in which music and sound may influence perception about AI. The notion of {\textquoteleft}counterpoint{\textquoteright} in music theory is developed as a concept to capture and explain how the integrated dynamics of human/machines are represented within these sonic framings. The concept of the counterpoint allows us to reflect on how the relations between AI and the human and how they are sonically framed in ways that separate and blend without recourse to reductive or binary futures, which potentially misrepresent AI capabilities and performance. The article identifies and develops four types of counterpoint in what we refer to as AI sonic narratives. This article provides a framework from which AI could be sonically framed responsibly, which is critical when misinformation and hype impede the public understanding of science.",

keywords = "AI, MUSIC, REPRESENTATION, NARRATIVES, ETHICS",

author = "Chubb, {Jennifer Alison} and Beer, {David Gareth}",

note = "{\textcopyright} Crown 2023",

year = "2024",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1007/s43681-023-00404-3",

language = "English",

volume = "4",

pages = "679–690",

journal = "AI and Ethics",

issn = "2730-5961",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Establishing counterpoints in the sonic framing of AI narratives

AU - Chubb, Jennifer Alison

AU - Beer, David Gareth

N1 - © Crown 2023

PY - 2024/8

Y1 - 2024/8

N2 - To challenge dominant representations and conceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this article explores how AI is sonically represented in documentaries. Using a corpus of documentaries alongside expert interviews with sound designers, we explore the ways in which music and sound may influence perception about AI. The notion of ‘counterpoint’ in music theory is developed as a concept to capture and explain how the integrated dynamics of human/machines are represented within these sonic framings. The concept of the counterpoint allows us to reflect on how the relations between AI and the human and how they are sonically framed in ways that separate and blend without recourse to reductive or binary futures, which potentially misrepresent AI capabilities and performance. The article identifies and develops four types of counterpoint in what we refer to as AI sonic narratives. This article provides a framework from which AI could be sonically framed responsibly, which is critical when misinformation and hype impede the public understanding of science.

AB - To challenge dominant representations and conceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this article explores how AI is sonically represented in documentaries. Using a corpus of documentaries alongside expert interviews with sound designers, we explore the ways in which music and sound may influence perception about AI. The notion of ‘counterpoint’ in music theory is developed as a concept to capture and explain how the integrated dynamics of human/machines are represented within these sonic framings. The concept of the counterpoint allows us to reflect on how the relations between AI and the human and how they are sonically framed in ways that separate and blend without recourse to reductive or binary futures, which potentially misrepresent AI capabilities and performance. The article identifies and develops four types of counterpoint in what we refer to as AI sonic narratives. This article provides a framework from which AI could be sonically framed responsibly, which is critical when misinformation and hype impede the public understanding of science.

KW - AI

KW - MUSIC

KW - REPRESENTATION

KW - NARRATIVES

KW - ETHICS

U2 - 10.1007/s43681-023-00404-3

DO - 10.1007/s43681-023-00404-3

M3 - Article

SN - 2730-5961

VL - 4

SP - 679

EP - 690

JO - AI and Ethics

JF - AI and Ethics

ER -