Famous songwriters who have worked with stars like Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, and BTS think that machines that can think (AI) are not scary. They think AI can be helpful 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 say that AI can’t copy the feelings and art that people put into music. They think AI should be used as a helper, but not take the place of writing a good song.

The writers who made Doja Cat’s popular song “Woman,” Linden Jay and Aaron Horn, like AI because it can help when they are stuck in making music. They think it’s like a book that helps find words that sound the same, which is used a lot for writing poems and songs. Jessica Agombar, who wrote a song for the Jonas Brothers, also likes AI, especially how it can copy voices. But, she thinks that the art of making songs and music, even with mistakes and rough parts, should be kept. Kamille, who has worked with Little Mix and Kylie Minogue, tries not to use AI too much. She thinks that the most important part of writing a song is showing feelings from the heart and that this should not be lost as machines get better. They tell people who want

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:

– Charades

Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a piece of paper with a word related to the article written on it (e.g. AI, music, songwriting, feelings). One person from each group will act out the word silently while the others guess what it is. The group that guesses correctly first gets a point. Repeat with different words.

– News Summary

Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. In pairs or small groups, have them take turns summarizing the main points of the article to each other. Encourage them to use their own words and focus on the key information. Afterward, discuss as a class and compare their summaries.

– Word Association

Instructions: Write the word “AI” on the board. Have students take turns saying a word or phrase that they associate with AI or the article. For example, one student might say “technology,” and another might say “music production.” Encourage them to explain their associations if they can.

– Vocabulary Pictionary

Instructions: Prepare a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. AI, songwriter, music, feelings). Divide the class into small groups. One student from each group will come to the front and choose a word from a hat or container. They must then draw a picture on the board to represent the word, while their group members guess what it is. The group that guesses correctly gets a point. Rotate students until all words have been used.

– Think-Pair-Share

Instructions: Have students think individually about their own opinions on AI in music, based on the article. Then, pair them up and have them discuss their thoughts with their partner. Finally, bring the class back together and have a few students share their opinions with the whole class. Encourage them to explain their reasoning and listen to different perspectives.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What do famous songwriters think about machines that can think (AI)?
2. How do songwriters use AI to help them make music?
3. Can AI copy the feelings and art that people put into music?
4. Why do Linden Jay and Aaron Horn like using AI in their music-making process?
5. What does Jessica Agombar like about AI?
6. Why does Kamille try not to use AI too much?
7. What do the songwriters think is the most important part of writing a song?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Famous songwriters who have (1)______ with stars like Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, and BTS think that machines that can think (AI) are not (2)______. They think AI can be helpful 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 say that AI can’t (3)______ the (4)______ and art that people put into music. They think AI should be used as a helper, but not take the place of writing a good song.

The writers who made Doja Cat’s popular song “Woman,” Linden Jay and Aaron Horn, like AI because it can help when they are stuck in making music. They (5)______ it’s like a book that helps find words that sound the same, which is used a lot for writing (6)______ and songs. Jessica Agombar, who wrote a song for the Jonas Brothers, also likes AI, especially how it can copy voices. But, she thinks that the art of making songs and music, even with mistakes and rough parts, should be kept. Kamille, who has worked with Little Mix and Kylie Minogue, tries not to use AI too much. She thinks that the most important part of writing a song is showing feelings from the heart and that this should not be lost as (7)______ get (8)______. They tell people who want
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What do famous songwriters think about machines that can think?
2. How do songwriters use AI to help them make music?
3. Why do the songwriters think AI can’t copy the feelings and art in music?
4. Do the songwriters think AI should replace writing a good song? Why or why not?
5. How do Linden Jay and Aaron Horn use AI in their music-making process?
6. What does Jessica Agombar like about AI?
7. What does Kamille think is the most important part of writing a song?
8. Why does Kamille try not to use AI too much?
9. Do you think machines that can think are scary? Why or why not?
10. How would you feel if AI helped you when you were stuck in making something?
11. Do you like the idea of AI copying voices in music? Why or why not?
12. Do you think AI should be used as a helper in making music? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. songwriters
2. stars
3. scary
4. helpful
5. copy
6. feelings
7. art
8. helper

Meanings:
(a) Something that is made with creativity and imagination
(b) Famous people who are in movies or on TV
(c) Something that makes things easier
(d) Emotions that come from your heart
(e) Something that assists or supports you
(f) Something that makes you feel afraid
(g) Make something exactly the same as another thing
(h) People who write songs
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Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What do famous songwriters think about machines that can think (AI)?
(a) They are not scary and can be helpful in making music.
(b) They are scary and should not be used in making music.
(c) They are helpful but cannot copy the feelings and art in music.
(d) They are scary and can copy the feelings and art in music.

2. How do songwriters use AI in making music?
(a) To replace the art of making songs and music.
(b) To copy the feelings and art in music.
(c) To make music without any mistakes or rough parts.
(d) To copy the voice of a singer or help when they can’t think of what to write.

3. Why do Linden Jay and Aaron Horn like AI?
(a) It can copy voices.
(b) It helps them when they are stuck in making music.
(c) It can replace the art of making songs and music.
(d) It can copy the feelings and art in music.

4. What does Jessica Agombar like about AI?
(a) It can help find words that sound the same.
(b) It can replace the art of making songs and music.
(c) It can copy the feelings and art in music.
(d) It can copy voices.

5. What does Kamille think is the most important part of writing a song?
(a) Using AI to copy voices.
(b) Showing feelings from the heart.
(c) Using AI to find words that sound the same.
(d) Using AI to replace the art of making songs and music.

6. What do the songwriters say about using AI in making music?
(a) It should be used as a helper, but not take the place of writing a good song.
(b) It should replace the art of making songs and music.
(c) It can copy the feelings and art in music perfectly.
(d) It can replace the feelings from the heart in making music.

7. What does Kamille think about using AI too much?
(a) It should be used because it can copy the feelings and art in music perfectly.
(b) It should be used to replace the art of making songs and music.
(c) It should be avoided because it can replace the most important part of writing a song.
(d) It should be used to replace the feelings from the heart in making music.

8. Who are some of the stars that the famous songwriters have worked with?
(a) Little Mix and Kylie Minogue.
(b) Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, and Little Mix.
(c) Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, and BTS.
(d) BTS, Kylie Minogue, and Little Mix.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Songwriters believe that AI cannot copy the feelings and art that people put into music.
2. AI should not be used as a helper, but replace the process of writing a good song.
3. Some famous songwriters think that machines that can think are scary and cannot help make music.
4. AI can copy the voice of a singer or help when songwriters can’t think of what to write.
5. Jessica Agombar, who wrote a song for the Jonas Brothers, also likes AI because it can copy voices.
6. The writers of Doja Cat’s song “Woman” like AI because it helps them when they are stuck in making music.
7. Songwriters believe that the most important part of writing a song is not showing feelings from the heart, and this should be lost as machines get better.
8. AI is like a book that helps find words that sound the same, which is useless for writing poems and songs.
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. Do the famous songwriters think machines that can think (AI) are scary?
2. How do the songwriters use AI to help them make music?
3. Can AI copy the feelings and art that people put into music?
4. Why do Linden Jay and Aaron Horn like AI?
5. What does Kamille think is the most important part of writing a song?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What do famous songwriters think about machines that can think (AI)?
They think AI is not scary and can be helpful in making music.

2. How do songwriters use AI to help them make music?
They use AI to copy singers’ voices and to help when they can’t think of what to write.

3. Can AI copy the feelings and art that people put into music?
No, AI can’t copy the feelings and art that people put into music.

4. Why do Linden Jay and Aaron Horn like using AI in their music-making process?
They like using AI because it can help them when they are stuck in making music.

5. What does Jessica Agombar like about AI?
Jessica Agombar likes how AI can copy voices.

6. Why does Kamille try not to use AI too much?
Kamille thinks that the most important part of writing a song is showing feelings from the heart, and AI can’t do that.

7. What do the songwriters think is the most important part of writing a song?
The songwriters think that showing feelings from the heart is the most important part of writing a song.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) worked
(2) scary
(3) copy
(4) feelings
(5) think
(6) poems
(7) machines
(8) better
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. songwriters
Answer: (h) People who write songs

2. stars
Answer: (b) Famous people who are in movies or on TV

3. scary
Answer: (f) Something that makes you feel afraid

4. helpful
Answer: (c) Something that makes things easier

5. copy
Answer: (g) Make something exactly the same as another thing

6. feelings
Answer: (d) Emotions that come from your heart

7. art
Answer: (a) Something that is made with creativity and imagination

8. helper
Answer: (e) Something that assists or supports you
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What do famous songwriters think about machines that can think (AI)?
Answer: (a) They are not scary and can be helpful in making music.

2. How do songwriters use AI in making music?
Answer: (d) To copy the voice of a singer or help when they can’t think of what to write.

3. Why do Linden Jay and Aaron Horn like AI?
Answer: (b) It helps them when they are stuck in making music.

4. What does Jessica Agombar like about AI?
Answer: (d) It can copy voices.

5. What does Kamille think is the most important part of writing a song?
Answer: (b) Showing feelings from the heart.

6. What do the songwriters say about using AI in making music?
Answer: (a) It should be used as a helper, but not take the place of writing a good song.

7. What does Kamille think about using AI too much?
Answer: (c) It should be avoided because it can replace the most important part of writing a song.

8. Who are some of the stars that the famous songwriters have worked with?
Answer: (c) Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, and BTS.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Songwriters believe that AI cannot copy the feelings and art that people put into music. (Answer: True)
2. AI should not be used as a helper, but replace the process of writing a good song. (Answer: False)
3. Some famous songwriters think that machines that can think are scary and cannot help make music. (Answer: False)
4. AI can copy the voice of a singer or help when songwriters can’t think of what to write. (Answer: True)
5. Jessica Agombar, who wrote a song for the Jonas Brothers, also likes AI because it can copy voices. (Answer: True)
6. The writers of Doja Cat’s song “Woman” like AI because it helps them when they are stuck in making music. (Answer: True)
7. Songwriters believe that the most important part of writing a song is not showing feelings from the heart, and this should be lost as machines get better. (Answer: False)
8. AI is like a book that helps find words that sound the same, which is useless for writing poems and songs. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧