Revolutionising the Stage: AI-Driven Personalisation, Interaction, and Accessibility in Performing Arts
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been steadily transforming various sectors of life, including the performing arts. This article explores how AI is revolutionising audience engagement in performing arts, drawing on scientific research and real-world examples.
Traditionally, performing arts have been characterised by a one-way interaction between the performers and the audience. However, AI is disrupting this dynamic, turning it into a two-way dialogue. David Roesner, in his research paper “Artificial Intelligence in the Performing Arts: Anticipatory Technology and the Rupture of the Performance Text,” discusses how AI can rupture the traditional performance text, creating a new form of performance that is dynamic and responsive.
One of the ways AI is enhancing audience engagement is through personalisation. AI algorithms can analyse audience reactions in real-time and adapt performances accordingly. This dynamic personalisation creates a more immersive experience, leading to higher levels of engagement. An example of this is the “AI DJ Project” at London’s Barbican Centre, which used AI to play music based on the audience’s mood and reactions.
AI is also facilitating interactive storytelling. In a play called “Journey to the Center of the Natural Machine,” AI technology was used to create a unique narrative path each time it was performed. The audience used their smartphones to vote on various decisions, steering the direction of the story in real time. This level of interaction brings a fresh perspective to performing arts, making the audience integral contributors to the narrative’s evolution.
Immersive technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are also being merged with AI to redefine audience engagement. The Royal Shakespeare Company created a digital avatar of Ariel from “The Tempest,” merging digital and live performance.
This combination of AI and AR/VR technologies could allow audience members to appreciate the intricacy of each step in a ballet performance, for instance, enhancing their appreciation of the art.
AI’s ability to generate realistic human speech and behavior has given birth to virtual performers. Hatsune Miku, a virtual pop star from Japan, is a completely computer-generated performer who has been performing to sold-out concerts. These AI characters can perform alongside human actors, respond to audience reactions, and even deliver improvised lines based on the situation.
AI is also enabling accessibility in performing arts. AI-powered tools can provide real-time translations and descriptions for global audiences, allowing people who might otherwise be excluded due to language or sensory barriers to fully participate and engage. Google’s Project Euphonia, for instance, aims to improve computer speech recognition for individuals with impaired speech.
While these advancements show the promising potential of AI in performing arts, they also raise ethical and practical questions. How much influence should audiences have over a performance? What happens to the art when it becomes too personalised? How can we ensure that AI doesn’t replace human creativity but rather augments it? These concerns echo the questions raised in Roesner’s research.
Despite these challenges, it is clear that AI is already transforming audience engagement in performing arts. The key lies in balancing AI capabilities with artistic integrity, enabling technology to enrich the audience’s experience without diluting the essence of the performing arts.
As we continue to harness the power of AI in performing arts, we should aim to create a new era of artistic expression and audience engagement, one that respects the traditions of the past while innovatively shaping the future. The stage is set for an exciting revolution in the performing arts, with AI playing a central role in this transformation.
Sources:
