‘I’m a composer. Am I staring extinction in the face?’: classical music and AI

The article discusses the impact of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), on the classical music industry. The author, a composer, raises concerns about the potential extinction of human composers as AI-generated music becomes more prevalent. The article delves into the author's visit to a "hacker mansion" in Hillsborough, California, which serves as a startup hub and a showcase for the future of technology. The author and their producer, Fay Lomas, were there to record interviews for a BBC Radio 3 documentary exploring the intersection of generative AI and classical music in the San Francisco Bay Area. The article suggests that the rapid advancements in AI technology are radically reshaping the music industry, raising questions about the role and future of human composers. The author ponders whether the creative organizations are being too optimistic about the impact of AI or if the wave of technological change will ultimately undermine the traditional classical music landscape.