Will Douglas Heaven, a prominent figure in the tech journalism sphere, recently shared three areas of interest that are currently capturing his attention. These include the drumming of El Estepario Siberiano, the exploration of AI-generated content that blurs the line between reality and artificiality, and the implications of these technologies.

Heaven expressed particular enthusiasm for the YouTube channel of El Estepario Siberiano, the online moniker of Spanish drummer Jorge Garrido. Garrido's videos feature 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 acknowledges the extensive practice required to achieve his level of proficiency, dedicating years to honing his craft. He said, "At a time when machines appear to do it all, there's a kind of defiance in that level of human effort." Heaven highlighted Garrido's covers of electronic music as particularly compelling, citing his rendition of Skrillex and Missy Elliott's "Ra Ta Ta" as an example of how human drumming can surpass the capabilities of a drum machine.

Heaven is also closely observing the evolution of AI-generated video, specifically mentioning Sora, OpenAI's text-to-video model. He described experiencing a sense of unease, yet fascination, while watching Sora-generated videos depicting surreal scenarios. These scenarios included "Michael Jackson stealing a box of chicken nuggets" and "Sam Altman biting into the pink meat of a flame-grilled Pikachu." This feeling, he explained, stems from the "uncanny valley," a concept describing the discomfort humans experience when encountering artificial representations that closely resemble, but do not perfectly replicate, reality.

The convergence of human artistry and artificial intelligence appears to be a central theme connecting Heaven's current interests. While celebrating the dedication and skill of a human drummer pushing the boundaries of musical performance, he simultaneously acknowledges the rapid advancements in AI that are challenging our perceptions of reality and creativity. The implications of these advancements, particularly in the realm of content creation and the potential for blurring the lines between the real and the artificial, are areas that Heaven continues to explore and analyze.