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- Taste in the age of AI
Is there such a thing as good taste?
I think there is.
I also think it’ll be one of the most important things you can develop as we enter the age of AI.
Whether you feel positive, negative, or indifferent about AI doesn’t matter.
It’s here to stay, 100%.
Any technology that makes things easier, faster, and cheaper will be adopted.
The good news is that we are all starting from the same position.
It’s new for everyone.
And so the sooner you understand the landscape and how it might affect your line of work (or in our case music production, DJing, etc) the better off in the long run you will be.
See, here’s the thing…
AI will move society from a skill-driven system to a taste-driven one.
What do I mean?
As skills become more commonplace, taste becomes exponentially more important.
Let me use an example to drive home the point.
It’s easier than ever to DJ, right?
DJing in 2024 is a breeze compared to learning the craft 20 years ago.
With Youtube, controllers, and the sync button…
You can technically become a pretty decent DJ in a matter of months.
That’s not a bad thing. I’m here for it.
Djing has brought me a lot of joy, and I hope it can do the same for others.
But you know what you can’t learn in a matter of months?
Good taste.
How to develop good taste.
Paul Graham argues that the notion of "taste is just personal preference" is incorrect.
When you start creating, you realize that taste isn't just subjective.
As you improve in your craft, your tastes evolve, and you can recognize quality better.
This shows taste can be developed and improved.
This is good!
Tips for developing good taste:
Analyze what you love. Break it down to see what makes it special to you. This helps define your taste.
Create a lot. Making art or music, even if it's not perfect, closes the gap between your taste and skills. Finish projects and learn from them.
Stay open-minded. Let your taste evolve with new experiences and influences.
Pay attention to your reactions to art and music. Notice what excites, bores, or confuses you. Use this to shape your taste.
The key is to expose yourself to great art and music, reflect on what you like, and keep creating to hone your personal style.
Taste can be developed, but it's a lifelong journey.
Which is why curation is also currently more important than ever.
Good taste, paired with excellent curation, will be incredibly valuable in the coming years.
(I wrote about curation here)
So trust your intuition, enjoy the process, and give it time.
AI ain’t got nothing on your good tastes. You got this.
You’ll find my new Lithe - Fall Back remix below, along with 4 others.
Hit me up if you have any questions or if I can help in some way.
I respond to every email.
Talk next week!
Brenmar
