Famous songwriters who have worked with popular singers like Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, and BTS think that we should not be scared of artificial intelligence (AI). They see AI as a helpful tool in making music. Some use it to copy the voice of a singer they are writing for or to help when they can’t think of what to write. But, they all agree that AI can’t copy the feelings and human touch that goes into making music. They think AI should be used as a tool, but not replace the skill of writing a good song.

The writers of Doja Cat’s popular song “Woman,” Linden Jay and Aaron Horn, think AI is a tool that can help when they are stuck in the creative process. They think it’s like a rhyming dictionary, a tool used on the internet that suggests rhymes for poems and lyrics. Jessica Agombar, who wrote “What a Man Gotta Do” for the Jonas Brothers, also likes using AI, especially when it can copy voices. But, she thinks that the skill of writing and producing a song, with its mistakes and rough parts, should be kept.

Kamille, who has worked with singers like Little Mix and Kylie Minogue, tries not to use AI too much. She thinks that the most important part of writing a song is putting your feelings into it and that this should not be lost as technology gets better. The writers tell young musicians not to depend too much on AI and to use their own experiences and feelings, as these are things that AI can’t copy.

Original news source: Doja Cat and Jonas Brothers songwriters say AI is not to be feared (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article and create a summary of the main points.
4. After a designated amount of time, have each group share their summaries with the class.
5. Encourage discussion and clarification of any unclear points.

– Word Association
Instructions:
1. Write the words “artificial intelligence” on the board.
2. Instruct students to brainstorm and write down as many words or phrases that come to mind when they think of artificial intelligence and music.
3. After a designated amount of time, have students share their ideas with the class.
4. Guide a class discussion about the different associations and connections made.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Select key vocabulary words from the article (e.g. artificial intelligence, songwriter, creative process).
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. Give each group a vocabulary word and ask them to draw a quick picture that represents the word.
4. Have each group take turns presenting their drawing to the class, while the other groups guess the word.
5. Encourage students to explain the meaning of the word and how it relates to the article.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions:
1. Pose a discussion question related to the article (e.g. “Do you think artificial intelligence should be used to make music? Why or why not?”).
2. Give students a few minutes to think about their response individually.
3. Pair up students and have them share their thoughts with their partner.
4. After a designated amount of time, bring the class back together and ask some pairs to share their discussions with the whole group.
5. Encourage respectful discussion and debate.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Instruct students to imagine a future where artificial intelligence has advanced even further in the music industry.
2. Ask them to write a short paragraph or create a dialogue between two people discussing how AI is used in music.
3. Provide some prompts or questions to guide their thinking (e.g. What role does AI play in songwriting? How has it affected the music industry?).
4. After a designated amount of time, have students share their predictions with the class.
5. Encourage creativity and critical thinking in their responses.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What do famous songwriters think about artificial intelligence (AI)?
2. How do songwriters use AI in making music?
3. What do the writers of Doja Cat’s song “Woman” compare AI to?
4. Why does Jessica Agombar like using AI?
5. Why does Kamille try not to use AI too much?
6. What do the writers tell young musicians about AI?
7. What are the things that AI can’t copy according to the songwriters?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Famous songwriters who have worked with popular singers like Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, and BTS think that we should not be scared of artificial intelligence (AI). They see AI as a (1)______ful tool in making (3)______. Some use it to copy the voice of a singer they are writing for or to help when they can’t think of what to write. But, they all agree that AI can’t copy the feelings and human (4)______ that (5)______ into making music. They think AI should be (6)______ as a tool, but not replace the skill of writing a good song.

The writers of Doja Cat’s popular song “Woman,” Linden Jay and Aaron Horn, think AI is a tool that can help when they are stuck in the creative process. They think it’s like a rhyming dictionary, a tool used on the internet that suggests rhymes for poems and lyrics. Jessica (7)______, who wrote “What a Man Gotta Do” for the Jonas Brothers, also likes using AI, especially when it can (8)______ voices. But, she thinks that the skill of writing and producing a song, with its mistakes and rough parts, should be (9)______.

Kamille, who has worked with singers like Little Mix and Kylie Minogue, tries not to use AI too much. She thinks that the most important part of writing a song is (10)______ your (11)______ into it and that this should not be lost as technology (12)______ better. The writers tell young musicians not to depend too much on AI and to use their own experiences and feelings, as these are things that AI can’t copy.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
2. How do famous songwriters use AI in making music?
3. Do you think AI can copy the feelings and human touch in music? Why or why not?
4. How do Linden Jay and Aaron Horn compare AI to a rhyming dictionary?
5. Why does Jessica Agombar like using AI?
6. Do you agree with Jessica Agombar that the mistakes and rough parts of a song should be kept? Why or why not?
7. Why does Kamille think it’s important to put your feelings into a song?
8. Do you think young musicians should depend on AI too much? Why or why not?
9. How can young musicians use their own experiences and feelings in their music?
10. Why do the writers of the article think AI should be used as a tool, but not replace the skill of writing a good song?
11. How would you feel if AI could completely replace human songwriters? Why?
12. Do you like the idea of using AI in making music? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. artificial intelligence (AI)
2. copy
3. tool
4. voice
5. skill
6. feelings
7. technology
8. musicians

Meanings:
(a) Machines and computers that help us do things
(b) Make something that looks or sounds the same
(c) The sound that comes out of your mouth when you talk or sing
(d) People who play instruments or sing songs
(e) A smart computer program that can think
(f) Something you learn and practice to become good at
(g) Something you use to help you do a task
(h) The emotions and thoughts you have inside you
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How do famous songwriters feel about using artificial intelligence (AI) in making music?
(a) They think it can be a helpful tool.
(b) They are scared of it.
(c) They think it should replace human songwriters.
(d) They think it can copy the feelings and human touch in music.

2. How do the writers of Doja Cat’s song “Woman” compare AI to?
(a) A musical instrument.
(b) A robot singer.
(c) A rhyming dictionary.
(d) A computer program.

3. What does Jessica Agombar think about using AI in music?
(a) She thinks it should replace human songwriters.
(b) She likes using it, especially for copying voices.
(c) She thinks it can copy the feelings and human touch in music.
(d) She thinks it should not be used at all.

4. How does Kamille feel about using AI in songwriting?
(a) She thinks it is the most important part of writing a song.
(b) She thinks it can copy the feelings and human touch in music.
(c) She thinks it should replace human songwriters.
(d) She tries not to use it too much.

5. What do the songwriters tell young musicians about using AI?
(a) Not to depend too much on it.
(b) To use it for all their songs.
(c) To let it replace their own experiences and feelings.
(d) To use it instead of their own creativity.

6. What do the songwriters think AI can’t copy in music?
(a) The lyrics and melodies.
(b) The voices of singers.
(c) The mistakes and rough parts.
(d) The feelings and human touch.

7. What is a rhyming dictionary?
(a) A tool that copies the voice of a singer.
(b) A tool that suggests rhymes for poems and lyrics.
(c) A tool that replaces human songwriters.
(d) A tool that helps with the creative process.

8. What do the songwriters think AI should be used as?
(a) A replacement for human songwriters.
(b) A tool to copy the feelings and human touch in music.
(c) A tool, but not to replace the skill of writing a good song.
(d) A tool to copy the voices of singers.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Kamille, who has worked with Little Mix and Kylie Minogue, believes that putting feelings into a song is the most important part and should not be lost as technology advances.
2. AI should be used as a replacement, and it should replace the skill of writing a good song.
3. The writers advise young musicians not to rely too heavily on AI and to use their own experiences and emotions, as these are things that AI cannot imitate.
4. Famous songwriters believe that artificial intelligence (AI) can be a helpful tool in making music.
5. However, songwriters disagree that AI cannot replicate the emotions and human touch that go into making music.
6. The writers of Doja Cat’s song “Woman” see AI as a useless rhyming dictionary, suggesting rhymes for poems and lyrics.
7. AI can be used to copy the voice of a singer or assist with songwriting when the writer is stuck.
8. Jessica Agombar, who wrote for the Jonas Brothers, dislikes using AI to copy voices and believes the imperfections and rough parts of a song should be discarded.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What do famous songwriters think about artificial intelligence (AI)?
2. How do the songwriters use AI in their music-making process?
3. Why do the songwriters believe that AI can’t fully replace the skill of writing a good song?
4. How do Linden Jay and Aaron Horn compare AI to a rhyming dictionary?
5. What advice do the songwriters give to young musicians about using AI in their music?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What do famous songwriters think about artificial intelligence (AI)?
They think AI is a helpful tool in making music, but it can’t replace the skill of writing a good song.

2. How do songwriters use AI in making music?
They use AI to copy the voice of a singer they are writing for or to help when they can’t think of what to write.

3. What do the writers of Doja Cat’s song “Woman” compare AI to?
They compare AI to a rhyming dictionary, a tool that suggests rhymes for poems and lyrics.

4. Why does Jessica Agombar like using AI?
She likes using AI because it can copy voices, which can be helpful in making music.

5. Why does Kamille try not to use AI too much?
She thinks that the most important part of writing a song is putting your feelings into it, and AI can’t copy that.

6. What do the writers tell young musicians about AI?
They tell young musicians not to depend too much on AI and to use their own experiences and feelings in their music.

7. What are the things that AI can’t copy according to the songwriters?
AI can’t copy the feelings and human touch that go into making music.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) help
(2) helpful
(3) music
(4) touch
(5) goes
(6) used
(7) Agombar
(8) copy
(9) kept
(10) putting
(11) feelings
(12) gets
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. artificial intelligence (AI)
Answer: (e) A smart computer program that can think

2. copy
Answer: (b) Make something that looks or sounds the same

3. tool
Answer: (g) Something you use to help you do a task

4. voice
Answer: (c) The sound that comes out of your mouth when you talk or sing

5. skill
Answer: (f) Something you learn and practice to become good at

6. feelings
Answer: (h) The emotions and thoughts you have inside you

7. technology
Answer: (a) Machines and computers that help us do things

8. musicians
Answer: (d) People who play instruments or sing songs
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How do famous songwriters feel about using artificial intelligence (AI) in making music?
Answer: (a) They think it can be a helpful tool.

2. How do the writers of Doja Cat’s song “Woman” compare AI to?
Answer: (c) A rhyming dictionary.

3. What does Jessica Agombar think about using AI in music?
Answer: (b) She likes using it, especially for copying voices.

4. How does Kamille feel about using AI in songwriting?
Answer: (d) She tries not to use it too much.

5. What do the songwriters tell young musicians about using AI?
Answer: (a) Not to depend too much on it.

6. What do the songwriters think AI can’t copy in music?
Answer: (d) The feelings and human touch.

7. What is a rhyming dictionary?
Answer: (b) A tool that suggests rhymes for poems and lyrics.

8. What do the songwriters think AI should be used as?
Answer: (c) A tool, but not to replace the skill of writing a good song.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Kamille, who has worked with Little Mix and Kylie Minogue, believes that putting feelings into a song is the most important part and should not be lost as technology advances. (Answer: True)
2. AI should be used as a replacement, and it should replace the skill of writing a good song. (Answer: False)
3. The writers advise young musicians not to rely too heavily on AI and to use their own experiences and emotions, as these are things that AI cannot imitate. (Answer: True)
4. Famous songwriters believe that artificial intelligence (AI) can be a helpful tool in making music. (Answer: True)
5. However, songwriters disagree that AI cannot replicate the emotions and human touch that go into making music. (Answer: False)
6. The writers of Doja Cat’s song “Woman” see AI as a useless rhyming dictionary, suggesting rhymes for poems and lyrics. (Answer: False)
7. AI can be used to copy the voice of a singer or assist with songwriting when the writer is stuck. (Answer: True)
8. Jessica Agombar, who wrote for the Jonas Brothers, dislikes using AI to copy voices and believes the imperfections and rough parts of a song should be discarded. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧