Will Douglas Heaven, a prominent figure in the tech journalism sphere, recently shared three areas of interest that are currently capturing his attention, ranging from drumming virtuosity to the evolving landscape of AI-generated content. First, Heaven expressed considerable enthusiasm for the YouTube channel of El Estepario Siberiano, a Spanish drummer whose real name is Jorge Garrido. Garrido's channel features high-energy cover versions of popular songs, showcasing a level of speed and technical skill that has garnered widespread attention, including reaction videos from other professional musicians.
Heaven noted that Garrido openly discusses the extensive practice required to achieve his level of proficiency, stating that he dedicated years to almost constant drumming. This dedication, according to Heaven, represents a form of "defiance" in an era increasingly dominated by automation. He particularly highlighted Garrido's covers of electronic music, suggesting that the drummer surpasses the capabilities of drum machines in these performances. As an example, Heaven cited Garrido's rendition of Skrillex and Missy Elliott's "Ra Ta Ta," describing it as a source of joy.
Secondly, Heaven is closely following the advancements and implications of AI-generated video, specifically referencing videos created using OpenAI's Sora. He described experiencing a sense of unease, akin to the "uncanny valley," when viewing Sora-generated content depicting scenarios such as Michael Jackson stealing chicken nuggets or Sam Altman interacting with a Pikachu. The "uncanny valley" is a concept in aesthetics that describes the feeling of unease or revulsion that people experience when encountering things that appear almost, but not quite, human.
Sora, OpenAI's text-to-video model, is capable of creating realistic and imaginative scenes from text prompts. The technology has sparked both excitement and concern within the tech industry, raising questions about the potential for misuse and the blurring lines between reality and artificial creation. Heaven's reaction reflects a broader debate about the ethical and societal implications of increasingly sophisticated AI models.
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