A.I. Duet – A piano that responds to you.

A.I. Duet is a great Artificial Intelligence computer piano keyboard that responds to sequences input through your computer keyboard. Developed using Google’s Magenta project, the algorithm uses a neural network to learn how to respond through to the key strokes. Simply use a keyboard, use your computer keys, or even plug in a MIDI keyboard. A.I. Duet is built by Yotam Mann with friends on the Magenta and Creative Lab teams at Google.

Click here to view A.I. Duet

How can it be used in education?

Fundamentally, there are two distinct opportunities to use the A.I. Duet in schools:

Music:

Using a computer keyboard, middle C is found using the ‘A’, and the flats/sharps via the ‘QWERTY’ line. Challenge students to play a simple sequence to see how the AI responds.

• Does the AI respond the same when the sequence is repeated?
• What happens when you press your keys for shorter or longer frequencies?
• How does the AI respond when multiple keys are pressed at the same time?
• Annotate your sequence and response. Are you able to compose or enhance a known musical sequence in an unexpected way, and by using other instruments?

Computing:

A.I. Duet uses machine learning to let your play a duet with your computer. There are just too many music combinations possible to write traditional code to replicate an idea. A.I. approaches the ‘problem’ differently, by using machine learning, specifically neural networks. Over time, the neural networks learn the notes and timings, building its own map from the data added.

• Challenge pupils to explore machine learning / neural networks.
• What other examples can you think where machine learning and/or neural networks help in our everyday lives (Instances where there are too many variables which can be reasonably mapped out on paper)?
• If they keyboard is play simultaneously by two (or more people), is the AI response the same? If not, why is this?
• What tools can be used to support machine learning programs in an interactive and productive way?
• Are there any limits of using neural networks?

A final note: If you are using the program with your pupils (for your sanity) ensure that each computer used has a set of headphones! Just saying!

Click here to view A.I. Duet

Article written by @digicoled for UKEdChat

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