First opera about Artificial Intelligence: Miroslav Srnka “Singularity”

Abstract

Relevance of the study. Scientists have been working on the research and practical implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) since the middle of the last century. In 2021, this research area celebrated a series of anniversaries that highlight an 85-year history of the impact of artificial intelligence on human consciousness. Various historical stages of the development of artificial intelligence in science, technology and culture are considered. In 2021, the first opera dedicated to this topic appeared. The Czech composer Miroslav Srnka tried to disguise the seriousness of the problem in the genre of opera-comedy, opera-farce. Through the prism of the game, the artist warns against the danger of the future mastery of AI by the human brain. Not only scientists from all branches of science, but also musicians are asking Facebook, Google and other megacorporations about the ultimate goal of billions of dollars invested in AI R&D.

Main objectives of this study are 1) to outline the chronology of the historical stages of artificial intelligence research; 2) to present the problems of AI in different fields of science and culture; 3) to analyze the first opera created in 2021 about artificial intelligence. Miroslav Srnka's A Space Opera for Yuong Voises is a musician's reflection on the problem of the hypothetical future of humanity in the era of transhumanism.

Research methodology. The work uses a complex application of historical, comparative and textological approaches and methods to reveal the specifics of the embodiment of non-musical modern electronic technologies in the genre of opera.

The results of directorial artifacts. In the Science-Fiction-Opera of the Czech composer Miroslav Srnka the experience of digital communication of people in the future and the problems of the hypothetical future of humanity in the era of transhumanism, are presented like in a 'distorting mirror'. Ten years ago, a systematic survey of four different expert groups has been made which included more than 550 scientists. The results were published in a collection of articles by futurists Nick Buström and Vincent C. Müller (researchers at Oxford and Eindhoven University of Technology) named “Future Progress in Artificial Intelligence: A Survey of Expert Opinions”. When asked how soon mankind will master powerful AI, the average response rate of experts showed that 50% of the scientists answered positively to the likelihood of a strong AI availability in the period from 2040 to 2075. We therefore have a good chance to become witnesses of the hypothetical future predicted by futurists, science fiction writers and the authors of the opera “Singularity”, if we believe in the myth of the singularity. However, a large group of scientists rejects the hypothesis of the initiator of the opera “Singularity”, Ray Kurzweil that “The Singularity is Near” and doubts that the future of the singularity can be predicted. The opera “Singularity” is the first musical and theatrical experiment on the interaction and fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) with emotional intelligence (EI). From their inception theater, myths and religious rituals have always been the theme of art, reflecting the universe, legends, cults of society, predicting the future. The opera “Singularity” will take its place in the history of futurology as a musical and theatrical artifact about the myth of a global world in the 21st century.