Musicians integrate AI and robotics into live performances

New musical projects are exploring the intersection of human performance and advanced technology. In Australia, composer Hullick is debuting ‘The Sonobots: Arise!’ at the Northcote Social Club. The project features a string ensemble of robots performing alongside the BOLT Ensemble, exploring how human musicians interact with machine-driven music. The event also includes performances by The Amplified Elephants, an electronic ensemble of neurodivergent artists, highlighting the connection between assistive audio technology and creativity.

In the United States, MIT Media Lab professor Tod Machover has premiered ‘already and not yet’ with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The 25-minute composition utilizes a custom AI system designed to respond to the expressions of over 80 musicians. Developed in collaboration with doctoral student Manaswi Mishra, the project treats AI as an interactive instrument rather than a generative tool, marking a significant experiment in integrating artificial intelligence with a major symphony orchestra.