Using ChatGPT For 'Found Voices'

Steve Reich's pattern pieces have influenced my writing since the 1980s. One of my favorite procedures is the use of isorhythm and isomelody to generate a musical "fabric", as well as the use of "found voices", the equivalent of the "found object". The most popular Reich piece that uses this type of phasing is It's Gonna Rain which is the phasing of a looped recording of a preacher. But I also loved Different Trains, which uses the found voices of people on railroad journeys.

My latest piece, Keep The Future Running uses a AI-generated speech based on the query: "Write a short speech about the future", which I then applied TTS in both a British voice and Russian voice. The Russian version isn't really Russian but rather "mock Russian" which uses its vocal formant over English. Other found voices I've used are an FDR Fireside Chat from 1943 and a sample from the recent UN Emergency Session on Ukraine.

So far, Chat GPT has some creative use, but the text of speeches have been available as electronic text since the early web, so there's nothing really new about it, but is different in that it's perhaps easier to generate text based on a topic, in this case the future.

The generated "speech":

British TTS
Russian TTS
Just the found voices with isolated tracks
 

As we stand at the precipice of the future, I am filled with a sense of both excitement and uncertainty. The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and it's hard to predict exactly what lies ahead. However, one thing is clear: the future will be shaped by the choices we make today. Every decision we make, both as individuals and as a society, has the power to shape the world we live in tomorrow. We are already seeing incredible advancements in technology, from artificial intelligence to renewable energy to space exploration.

These innovations have the potential to transform our lives for the better, but they also bring new challenges and ethical dilemmas that we must grapple with.

At the same time, we are facing urgent global issues such as climate change, political instability, and inequality. These problems require bold and decisive action if we are to create a better future for all. So let us not be daunted by the challenges ahead. Let us embrace the future with optimism, courage, and a commitment to making the world a better place.

Together, we have the power to shape a future that is more just, sustainable, and fulfilling for all.