The Future of Arts in the Digital Age

Paloneo Summit 2023

What is the significance of art in our everyday lives, and how will it change by 2096? At a time when disruptive new technologies like artificial intelligence are blurring the lines between artists and machines, our natural understanding of art is inevitably being challenged.

Paloneo Summit, Rittergut Remeringhausen, July 2023.

At the Paloneo Summit 2023, Michael Temporal Darell (professional Opera singer) and Annabell Vacano (arts and tech entrepreneur) led an interactive discussion to explore the importance of art to our personal lives and society, as well as the ways in which technologies will change this understanding, exploring the pressing question: How will we make and perceive art in 2096, and how can we carry its relevance into a digital age?

The circle commenced with an introduction to the intense education system of a professional musician. Izzy Howard, a professional Violinist at the Royal Academy of Music and London Symphony Orchestra, shared eye-opening insights into the daily routine and sacrifices that come with a lifetime dedication to the arts.

Participants in the circle were invited to share their own experiences with the arts growing up. How present were the arts in your education? Did you ever see a performance or work of art that had a notable impact on you? We presented in this way to foster an environment of openness and sharing.

From sharing these experiences and beginning to discuss the future impact of technologies on art, in both sessions, an important theme came to define the conversations: what is art? This was a fascinating discussion as, like with perceiving art, everyone has a different perspective on defining art. People’s opinions were frequently challenged and changed in this debate.

The key takeaways from this introductory section were

1. Everyone has a unique way of perceiving art which is what makes it so exceptional.
2. An understanding that someone has sacrificed something (mostly a combination of time and discipline) to create a piece of art is essential in recognising art and beauty.

The section that followed was led by Annabell, Co-founder and CEO of Atopia, with her insights into AI and technology in the arts. The consequent discussion made us consider further “What is art?”, especially when adding the ‘machine’ element. In this discussion process, we came to recognise how new technologies throughout human history, such as the invention of the camera, have always made us question the nature of art.

A lively discussion ensued with many different passionate perspectives. Everyone has their own idea of what art is, how it can evolve, and what it means to them. Even if art is inherently ‘useless’ from a biological perspective, it is often a defining element of each human epoch enabling people to express themselves in their most honest way.

Concluding thoughts — Entering the next Age of Enlightenment

From the perspective of a performing classical musician, here are my views on the future of arts, informed by our discussions:

• There is no substitute for live performance. This is evident given the craving for live performances we saw during COVID. To make live performances more accessible, platforms such as Virtual Concert Hall from the Berlin Philharmonic and Royal Opera House Stream may gain in popularity perhaps by appearing in more classrooms.
• AI Composition as a Tool: AI-generated music might become akin to subscribing to a stock database, particularly for low-budget projects, while high-end documentaries may still prefer hiring real composers. The emotions and unique signature of a master that goes into a piece of art will drive its value. Can humans team up with machines to create a new category within the arts?
• Art is inherently human. Is art what defines us as a species? Though art seems useless from a biological standpoint it is often the predominant feature of how we define each human epoch that has come before us (it is how we pass down our ideas and values, and is the best way to uphold them once we are dead), will using AI as a tool not as art in its own right come to define the art of this generation and therefore define the generation itself?

At the next Paloneo Summit on May 25th 2024, we will again gather a group of artists, technologists and curious minds to reflect on the history of arts and set the foundation for what we call ‘The next Age of Enlightenment’. What can we learn from Enlightenment-era salons and societal integration of the Arts? Are we on the precipice of entering a modern Age of Enlightenment where emotional humans and intelligent machines unite to form a new class within the arts?

If you are a cultural entrepreneur, artist, investor, or technologist shaping the digital future of the arts, we want to build this future with you.

Please reach out to me, Michael, at michaeltemporaldarell@gmail.com or get in touch with Paloneo through the website or directly on Instagram.