The battle between AI and real people

In the top 10 most searched Vietnamese songs, AI voices dominate.

"50 Years Later" (Vietnamese lyrics by Dang Thanh Tuyen) is a famous Chinese song with Vietnamese lyrics, especially viral through the Metal Rock Ballad version performed by AI (artificial intelligence) singer F47.

The song evokes nostalgia for enduring love and a bond that lasts until old age. While the Vietnamese music scene this year hasn't seen any standout hits like last year, songs by AI have become the dominant force on the charts. "50 Years Later" is a prime example.

AI is undeniable.

Since the beginning of the year, AI-generated songs have been booming on social media platforms (primarily TikTok and YouTube). Particularly noteworthy are covers of anonymous singers or new compositions such as "The Wrong Name on the Wedding Invitation," "My Wedding," "I Lost to Her," "Drunk for You for a Lifetime," and "50 Years Later." AI covers of old hits in rock or bolero styles are also very popular.

Singer Dang Khoi performed the songs "50 Years Later" and "The Wrong Name on the Wedding Invitation," both successfully reinterpreted by AI. (Photo: Huy Vo)

AI covers are also a highlight on music charts due to their fresh style. Songs like "Farewell" (Phương Thanh), "Behind a Girl" (SOOBIN), "A Thousand Years of Reunion" (Đăng Khôi), "When Will You Know?" (Nhật Hào or Hồ Quang Hiếu), "Dream Chaser" (Hiền Thục),… are covered by the AI ​​voice in a very interesting way. Not limited to genre, AI covers even revolutionary songs, sentimental songs, and bolero songs such as "Sending You at the End of the Red River" remix, "Flowers in My Hair", "Faded Memories", "Waiting for Cigarette Smoke", "Afternoon Rain", "Drunk for You" (slow rock/bolero genre)…

The AI ​​version of the hit song "50 Years Later" is taking the Vietnamese music scene by storm (Screenshot).

The highlight of AI-generated songs is their impeccable quality. While the AI ​​doesn't overshadow the original vocalists of the hit songs they cover, the AI ​​music dominates the trending song lists/charts thanks to its AI-simulated voices that sound exactly like the famous singers, combined with catchy arrangements and instrumentation, creating a fresh and unique listening experience.

Vietnamese singer My Le admitted: "I have to admit it's amazing, there's nothing to criticize. I've been a singer for many years, so I can identify the strengths and weaknesses of a voice, but honestly, the AI's voice has no flaws at all. You can't deny the AI's quality."

Composer Nguyen Ngoc Thien noted that thanks to its flexible customization capabilities, the AI's vocals are almost technically perfect: eliminating errors such as off-beat singing and breathlessness, creating a rich, resonant, and powerful voice – something very difficult to achieve with real singers. As proof, the late composer Anh Bang's song "Mưa Chiều" (Afternoon Rain) has been revamped in many different styles, most notably Phuong Thanh's rock version and the AI ​​cover that sparked much debate. The AI ​​version garnered millions of views on TikTok, raising concerns among professionals about the overuse of technology in music. However, the song's appeal did not diminish, placing "Mưa Chiều" in the top search rankings this year. Similarly, for the song "50 Years Later," 100% of audience comments were praise for the AI's vocal performance.

"Don't be afraid of AI"

In the field of innovation, AI is being viewed as a "monster," an "enemy," a "threat"... Given its current prominence, these preconceptions about AI are not entirely unreasonable. This is because AI possesses a vast pool of synthesized knowledge and is applied (selectively) at lightning speed, much faster than humans can imagine.

Composer Nguyen Ngoc Thien added: "I believe the AI-generated vocals are almost perfect. For example, AI can create recordings with vocal ranges up to two octaves, full of power and intensity. Normally, only orchestral singers, tenors, and sopranos can hit these high notes; very few mainstream singers can conquer them." He noted that the phenomenon of "musicians losing their jobs because of AI" has already begun to appear.

Producer Hoaprox shared: "Creative people are now genuinely afraid of AI. It can take months for us to develop a product, while AI can produce several complete products in a single day. In terms of speed, creative people definitely 'have no chance' against AI." However, fear doesn't mean defeat.

Composer Vo Thien Thanh asserted: "A composition thrives on love and emotion. AI possesses a vast archive of information, but creative individuals possess a treasure trove of emotions and love. Not to mention the unique creations – something AI absolutely cannot offer. Therefore, we may fear the speed of AI, but we cannot lose to AI in terms of creativity."

Agreeing with this viewpoint, musician Nguyen Ngoc Thien also emphasized that despite the superior features of AI, the human element still plays a crucial role and cannot be completely replaced. "To effectively utilize AI, software users must know how to write commands. Therefore, humans cannot be 100% dependent on technology," the musician said.

According to experts, AI can only become a competitor when it possesses everything that humans lack, but to date, AI still has shortcomings in innovation. Meanwhile, creative individuals tasked with leading trends will have absolute advantages.

To survive, creatives must think differently and create products that bear a strong personal imprint.

"AI should only be used as a supporting tool for the creative journey. AI cannot defeat real people if the creative community takes their work more seriously," concluded musician Vo Thien Thanh.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cuoc-chien-cua-ai-va-nguoi-that-196260414201837019.htm