By Jimmy Chazama:
Players in the creative industry have expressed diverse views on Artificial Intelligence (AI) music following an announcement by Maso Awards that it will not be eligible for nomination or recognition.
In a statement released on Monday, Maso Awards Board admits that AI is becoming an important part of the creative industry and that it has potential to enhance artistic production, but says it will not be eligible for nomination or recognition until further notice.
The statement further says that Maso Awards’ focus remains on celebrating authentic human creativity, talent and artistic expression.
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Musician Agulugufe real name Emmanuel Nyale, who uses AI in producing songs, said the policy misunderstands the way music is created.
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He said the move by Maso Awards risks excluding artists who disclose their use of AI while rewarding those who conceal it.
“This is harsh and the decision will surely discourage young producers from experimenting with AI, especially in places with limited studio resources,” the ‘Ndili Single’ star said.
Music fan Hopeson Ngwenya said on Facebook that awards should judge quality, originality and impact of the final work and not the tools used.
“The future of music is not human versus AI, it is humans using AI to push creativity to new heights and so, Maso Awards needs to look into this deeply,” Ngwenya said.
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But University of Malawi drama lecturer Smith Likongwe welcomed the exclusion, saying art must carry a human signature.
“An artist is supposed to be their own person with original taste,” the veteran dramatist, said.
The playwright however, said arts associations should not automatically ban AI artistic work but should monitor the extent of use.
“There should always be a distinctive element in the work where the audience identifies the artist’s signature,” he said.
Maso Awards Communications Manager Memory Msatilomo said yesterday that their focus is on creative input and fairness.
“AI work is allowed where the artist writes songs and performs with a producer involved, AI is there only to enhance the process,” she said.
She maintained that AI generated songs, where lyrics, melody, vocals or composition are predominantly created by machines, will be excluded.
“The awards are not against technology but we want to protect artistic authenticity. We want artists to embrace innovation without losing their own voice,” Msatilomo said.
She then dared artists in the country to strive for authenticity in their work.
The board says in the statement that the position will be reviewed as technology and industry standards evolve.
The development comes barely a month after Copyright Society of Malawi also announced that it does not register or pay royalties for creations made using AI.
