Robot DJs Gunning to Replace Humans in a Mere Half-Century or So

This article is over 14 years old and may contain outdated information

Recommended Videos

Defected has a neat article about robot DJs, and their cunning plans to crush and replace their human counterparts in a mere 40-50 years or so.

The highly regarded Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology houses one such team and where in 2002, Assistant Professor Of Media Arts & Sciences, Chris Csikszentmihalyi launched the DJ-I Robot Sound System. I-Robot used a PC, several micro-controllers and an advanced ‘motion control’ system to automatically search, play and manipulate the vinyl records sitting on its turntables.

Over the past decade I-Robot has been on educative world tour, learning new techniques and generally stupefying its human counterparts. Csikszentmihalyi is keen, over time, to create the perfect spinner: “If we can make this machine work, we’ll give club owners an easy time.” And yet he has always been aware of the fun, experimental aspect of his work; back at that 2002 launch, he teased those human jocks concerned about imminent robot revolution. “We’re trying to make human DJs obsolete as far as possible” he semi-joked. “They’re expensive; they’re unreliable.”

While stories like this are prone to hyperbole, a really good robot DJ is not as far-fetched as some of the flesh-and-blood DJs quoted in the article seem to think: (or want to think):

Defected makes the case — or at least gives that all-important ending sentiment to someone who does — that human DJs will never be wholly replaceable: “technology will never be able to replicate the raw and indefinable adrenaline rush of a human DJ bang on his game.” But as comparable developments in classical music show us — a program written by UC Santa Cruz emeritus professor David Cope is writing high-quality original music based on sophisticated algorithms — no form of expression is so unimpeachably ‘human’ that machines can’t conceivably give us a run for our money, and even surpass us. At that, as the DJing bots in the video below illustrate, we’ve still got some time.

(Defected via Hipster Runoff)


The Mary Sue is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author