Prolific Brooklyn electronic artist Paul Feder is fully flexing his electro muscles in his new single, “Paperclips” as he explores the inevitable complex relationship with AI that humankind is in the midst of developing. Due out June 25, “Paperclips” will be the first single on Feder’s forthcoming EP Echoes, which is due out later this summer.
With a trippy AI-built video, the new single “Paperclips” is the most direct homage to Kraftwerk Feder fans will have seen thus far. The story itself was inspired by Feder’s own discomfort with and ultimate embrace of AI, as well as theories of philosopher Nick Bostrom about the controversial technology.
“Paperclips” is based on AI thought experiment in which a sentient AI is given a simple task: maximize paperclip production. The end result is a Terminator-style future in which humanity is eradicated in the service of making A LOT of paperclips.
This seems to be where many theories about the advancement of artificial intelligence seem to go, but Feder, through working this track, came to a different conclusion and sees it from the AI’s point of view.
It’s a tongue-in-cheek robotic dance track and fever-dream AI video that imagines intelligent machines attaining meaning and fulfillment in their relentless pursuit of productivity.
Oh, would that it were so simple. That said, many artists who are beginning to play around with AI as a tool for making their art seem to be coming to similar conclusions. The inevitable end of AI’s means could likely be more collaboration than eradication. In the meantime, artists like Feder will continue to experiment with the different creative avenues. With its nod to Kraftwerk, vintage synths marrying with modern DAWs and AI-created video, “Paperclips” certainly bridges that gap. Not to mention it’s a bop. Stay tuned for the rest of Echoes for more concept-driven electronic contemplations.