As AI tools get better at making music, will there be a time when machines move people more than musicians? Putting that question to the test, legendary hitmaker Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd joins journalist Elise Hu to discuss how new tech is changing the music industry — followed by a live performance where he battles his digital twin to see who can write a catchier song. (Poo Bear is joined onstage by musician Sasha Sirota.)

A songwriting battle with my AI clone

Journalist, author, host of TED Talks Daily

As artificial intelligence rapidly advances in music creation, the tension between machine-made perfection and human emotion intensifies. In a live experiment, a hitmaker and his AI clone both composed a song using the same prompt, revealing that, while AI offers speed and clever imitation, it lacks the lived experience behind truly moving melodies. Despite AI's growing influence, the desire for authentic, in-person performances continues to surge, with concert revenues hitting new heights after the pandemic. The future of music may blend digital tools and human creativity, but the soul of a song still comes from a real-life story.

AI Can Mimic Songs, But Only Humans Bring Soul to Music

As artificial intelligence tools race ahead in music creation, the heart of songwriting is being tested like never before. In a live experiment, a Grammy-nominated hitmaker faced off with his AI clone, each writing a hook for the same song concept in real time. The AI responded in seconds, but the audience still recognized a distinct warmth and originality in the human-crafted melody. Even as technology enables rapid innovation, the irreplaceable power of lived emotion and creative instinct remains central to music’s impact.