Editor’s note: Besides following developments in tech, our author is also a musical composer (Juilliard-trained), He has provided a musical composition for you to listen to while reading this column. This piece is called “Piano Bass Duo.”
My columns this past month have presented thoughts about technology as it impacts us personally and professionally. One hot tech topic right now is artificial intelligence (AI). More people are concerned about it than excited by it. The best way to determine how you feel about it is to personally experience what it is.
Here are several current AI platforms that will allow you to experiment for free. All you have to do is register (use an email address as your user name) and then create a personal password. Do not use passwords that you use for other things as these are all open-source platforms and very public. Do not assume any privacy.
ChatGPT, a product of a company called OpenAI, is the oldest, most popular, and most used LLM (large language model) AI platform. In case you are wondering what ChatGPT is, I asked CHATGPT to define itself. I did this by typing “What is Chat GPT?” into the box marked “Message ChatGPT” and hitting return. (It’s that simple.) Here is what it answered:
“ChatGPT is the nickname for OpenAI’s language model, specifically referring to versions based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture, like myself. It’s designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the input it receives. So, you can think of it as an AI chatbot that engages in conversations, answers questions, assists with tasks, and more.”
It is now time for you to sign up for a few artificial intelligence accounts and start fooling around. Here’s how you can do it for absolutely no money. That’s right—for free.
1. I recommend that you start with a free ChatGPT 3.5 (No, you do not need to get the paid 4.0 account. I have been using the free Chat GPT 3.5 for more than a year. It will give you plenty of exposure to what is possible.) Sign up for ChatGPT here: https://chat.openai.com/
You should also explore a few more options. Using a single AI is not going to tell you what others do, so here are three more you can sign up for that are also free. Although there are still others, these three will give you a useful range.
2. Gemini by Google. Create an account by clicking here: https://gemini.google.com/ You can even use the same username and password you used for ChatGPT, so you don’t tax your password memory. Or use your gmail account
3. Another option is Claude by Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/ Claude by Anthropic is supposed to have the longest conversation memory. The is much discussion about the issue of memory and the IQ of various AI programs. There are even psychologists claiming to have measured the IQ of AIs. The chart I saw ranked ChatGPT 3.5 at an IQ of 62 and Claude at 102. The others were somewhere in the middle. You must try these out yourself to see how useful they are for you.
4. The last one I want to encourage you to try is Microsoft Copilot. It can do something the other three cannot, which is to draw pictures in response to typed prompts. I used it to create all the drawings in this column: https://copilot.microsoft.com/
Comparing results from multiple AI accounts
Now that you are armed with multiple AI accounts, you can do some experiments and poke around. You can submit copy you have written and ask the AI to check for grammar and spelling, or style and tone, or structure. You can ask it to illustrate points you want to make and to summarize long texts. In short, you can use it for proofreading, extracting the essence of what you or others have written, and many more things.
You can also use it to research information. In order to give you a faster taste of the differences between these four AI programs, I asked them all the same question:
Which major orchestra in the United States is best at performing new music while preserving excellent traditional capabilities?
And here, below, are the four different responses.
Here is what Chat GPT 3.5 responded:
Response 1
Several major orchestras in the United States excel at performing both new music and traditional repertoire while maintaining high standards of excellence. One notable example is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). Renowned for its commitment to contemporary composers, the CSO regularly premieres and commissions new works while also upholding its stellar reputation for interpreting classical masterpieces. Other orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and San Francisco Symphony also prioritize new music alongside their traditional repertoire, making them significant contributors to the contemporary classical music scene in the U.S.
Response 2
Several major orchestras in the United States excel at performing both new music and traditional repertoire, often striking a balance between innovation and tradition. Among them, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic stand out for their commitment to contemporary works while maintaining high standards in performing classical masterpieces. These orchestras frequently commission and perform new compositions alongside their renowned interpretations of classical repertoire, showcasing their versatility and dedication to musical innovation.
Here is what Google Gemini responded:
Pinpointing a single “best” orchestra is difficult as musical taste and preferences can be subjective. However, several major U.S. orchestras are known for their commitment to both contemporary music and traditional repertoire:
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- Los Angeles Philharmonic: Under conductors like Esa-Pekka Salonen, the LA Phil gained a reputation for championing new works alongside core repertoire. They maintain a strong commitment to contemporary music through commissions and performances.
- Philadelphia Orchestra: Renowned for its rich sound, the Philadelphia Orchestra also has a history of embracing new music. They have a current commitment to showcasing works by underrepresented composers.
- Boston Symphony Orchestra: While known for its interpretations of classical masters, the BSO also has a long history of performing new works. They have a longstanding commissioning program and a contemporary music series.
- New York Philharmonic: Another orchestra with a rich tradition, the New York Philharmonic also dedicates a portion of its season to contemporary music. They have a history of collaborating with living composers and showcasing new works.
These are just a few examples, and other orchestras across the country are actively engaged with contemporary music. It’s worth researching the programming of orchestras in your area or those you’d like to experience to see their focus on new music alongside traditional works.
Here is what Claude-3 responded:
Based on my knowledge, the San Francisco Symphony is widely regarded as one of the top orchestras in the United States for performing new and contemporary music while also maintaining excellent capabilities in the traditional classical repertoire.
Some key points about the San Francisco Symphony’s strengths in this area:
– Under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas for over 20 years (until his retirement in 2020), the orchestra developed a strong reputation for championing new and challenging works, including numerous commissions and world premieres.
– The orchestra’s innovative “New & Unusual Music” concert series has helped introduce audiences to cutting-edge contemporary compositions.
– At the same time, the San Francisco Symphony continues to receive acclaim for its interpretations of the standard classical repertoire, from the Viennese masters to the Romantic symphonic canon.
– Guest conductors and soloists frequently praise the orchestra’s versatility, flexibility, and high level of musicianship across diverse programs.
– The orchestra’s recording catalog includes both adventurous contemporary works as well as acclaimed renditions of traditional classics.
So in summary, the San Francisco Symphony stands out as one of the American orchestras that best balances a commitment to new music with maintaining its excellence in the classical tradition. This versatility is a major part of its reputation as one of the country’s premier orchestral institutions.
Finally here is what Microsoft Copilot answered.
In the United States, several major orchestras are renowned for their ability to perform new music while also maintaining excellent traditional capabilities. The orchestras that stand out in this regard often have a strong commitment to contemporary composers and innovative programming, alongside a deep respect for classical repertoire.
Based on recent trends and reports, orchestras like the **Los Angeles Philharmonic** are often cited for their dedication to new music under the leadership of conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel. They have been known to commission new works and feature contemporary composers regularly in their seasons.
The **San Francisco Symphony** and the **New York Philharmonic** also have reputations for embracing new music, with the latter having a series dedicated to contemporary works. Additionally, the **Boston Symphony Orchestra** has a history of commissioning new pieces and integrating them into their programs alongside classical masterworks.
These orchestras, among others, strive to balance innovation with tradition, ensuring that audiences can appreciate the classics while also experiencing the forefront of musical expression. It’s important to note that the best orchestra for new music can vary depending on personal preferences and the specific type of new music one is interested in. However, these orchestras are generally recognized for their contributions to both contemporary and traditional orchestral music.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 4/17/2024
(1) What’s Next for Orchestras? – Symphony. https://symphony.org/features/whats-next-for-orchestras/.
(2) 2023 Orchestra Repertoire Report – americanorchestras.org. https://americanorchestras.org/2023-orchestra-repertoire-report/.
(3) Our biggest orchestras are finally playing more music by women. What …. https://www.cpr.org/2022/10/18/our-biggest-orchestras-are-finally-playing-more-music-by-women-what-took-so-long/.
Most of these platorms can put their responses on a clipboard, share them in various ways, and speak their responses with pretty decent text-to-speech quality. Some have references.
The more creative you are in your prompting, the more you will learn. Take a few of these AI vehicles out for a spin and see if they can help you or, rather, how they can help you.
