Human-AI Co-Creation Debuts as National Gugak Orchestra Presents 'Coexistence'
Creatrip Team
a month ago
The National Gugak Orchestra of Korea will premiere five collaborative works with an AI persona named Ji-eum at a humanities concert titled “Coexistence” on the 26th at the National Theater. Developed by Korean startup Poja Labs, Ji-eum used audience emotion survey data and over one million musical data points to draft pieces including “Data’s Sprout” and an algorithmic reinterpretation of the traditional Arirang (“Arirang” is a famous Korean folk song). At a rehearsal demo, Ji-eum even wrote and performed a song using audience-submitted short messages. Human arrangers—composers Lee Ye-jin, Kim Baek-chan, and Lee Jung-ho—refined the AI’s raw drafts, addressing rough or unbalanced melodies and harmonies. Project leads emphasize the aim is not to replace artists but to explore AI as a creative partner; challenges remain such as limited traditional instrument data and occasional use of Chinese or Japanese instrument sounds. KAIST professor Jeong Jae-seung will co-host the event with Ji-eum, which features live conversational interaction with the AI, while conductor Jeong Ye-ji—who trained the robot conductor Ever 6—will lead the orchestra on stage.
