Kim Kwang-seok is a rock star. He comes from South Korea. He is very popular in his country. He dies in 1996.
A TV show is in South Korea. People who make the show have an idea. They want to use Kim´s voice. Kim´s voice will sing a song that Kim cannot know. The song does not exist before Kim dies.
A special program uses artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence means that a computer can do similar things that people do. The program learns 20 of Kim´s songs. Then, the program sings 700 Korean songs. The program must learn to sing like a real person.
It is difficult. People have feelings but computers do not. The program learns a new song. It sings it in Kim´s voice. Kim´s family is happy, too.
Difficult words: popular (when many people like something), program (a software in a computer which can do special tasks), feeling (when somebody feels happy, sad, angry, and so on).koKim Kwang-seok was a South Korean rock star who died in 1996. 25 years later, his fans could hear him sing again. He sang a song which did not exist when Kim was alive.
How did it happen? There was a TV show, and the producers planned to bring Kim back to life. An AI company used a special program which recorded Kim´s songs. The AI then learned to show feelings and emotions in songs. The program learned 20 of Kim´s songs, and the AI sang 700 Korean songs with Kim´s voice. After this training, the AI could sing a song which Kim could not know because he died before a songwriter wrote it.
Some people were happy when they heard Kim again. The producers were not sure if they did the right thing. They had to speak to Kim´s family, too. Kim´s family was very happy with the new song.
Difficult words: producer (a person who helps make a film or show), AI (artificial intelligence, when a computer can do things that people do), songwriter (a person who writes songs).Level 1
12-02-2021 07:00
One of South Korea´s most outstanding rock legends, Kim Kwang-seok, passed away in 1996. However, nearly 25 years later, loyal fans and a new generation are able to hear his voice singing a song that was written six years after his death.
The AI company Supertone has resurrected Kim´s voice for a new South Korean TV show and the AI successfully expressed human emotions in its songs. According to one of the producers, it was an important goal. At first, a computer program learned 20 of the late singer´s songs, and then technicians trained the AI to sing over 700 Korean songs with the same voice.
While some fans cherished the opportunity to hear the singer´s voice once again, the producers admitted that there were some ethical concerns surrounding the technology. Also, they were afraid that they wouldn´t get the permission of Kim´s family; however, Kim´s family was very happy with the outcome.
Difficult words: AI (artificial intelligence), resurrect (to bring to life again), cherish (to hold or treat something as dear and loved), ethical (following honest and good moral standards).
Good