The Possibilities of Literature Painted by AI #3

When the Inorganic Becomes Art: The 'Commonalities of Expression' Seen in Vocaloids and Generative AI

In the modern age, expression does not necessarily originate from 'living, breathing emotions'.

Rather, being inorganic, lacking personality, and being artificial can actually draw out deep human emotions—such is the paradox of art that is unfolding before us.

🎤 Vocaloids: Resonance Born from a Lack of Personality

Take, for example, the singing voice of a Vocaloid. That artificial voice, represented by Hatsune Miku, resembles a human voice, yet it makes us feel that it is somehow 'not human.' It lacks the 'human-like fluctuations' such as tremors, conflicts, and breathing.

However, that 'lack' is precisely what strongly stirs the listener's emotions.

Because the singing voice does not impose emotions, the listener can project their own feelings onto it. The thoughts embedded in the lyrics resonate freely within the listener's inner self.

Vocaloid songs have a structure where they are not 'singing' but rather being 'made to sing.' Yet, that 'mediating nature' results in creating a space for empathy open to everyone.

✍️ Generative AI: The 'Emotionless Neutrality' of Words

This structure also applies to generative AI. For instance, while the text produced by GPT has grammatical correctness and a rich vocabulary, it has a certain 'belonging to no one' feel to it.

It is truly words spelled out in a 'voice that is no one.' It is neutral, inorganic, and does not explicitly carry emotion. Yet, the reader can layer their own experiences and memories onto it.

Suppose there is a passage that says, 'At that moment, I couldn't say anything.' Even if it was written by an AI, upon seeing that sentence, we might recall our own past 'moments when we couldn't find the words.'

The AI is not speaking. It is simply 'reflecting' it there.

🪞 The Mirror of the Inorganic

Both Vocaloid singing voices and GPT texts share the property of being like a 'mirror'.

By not having emotions, they can become vessels for emotions.

By lacking personality, they can reflect anyone's emotions.

By not being overly complete, there is room for the receiver to intervene.

In this way, 'artificiality' is by no means a limitation of expression. Rather, it is where artistry resides as a device to draw out the receiver's emotions.

🎯 Conclusion: 'Artificiality' Becomes a New Device for Empathy

We might say that such AI-like or Vocaloid-like expressions have "no heart." But that is wrong. It is precisely because they "do not possess a heart" that they are able to "reflect the heart."

These are not cold tools. Rather, they are "artistic mirrors" that catch the vague and fluid nature of emotion.