In a groundbreaking event on Friday evening at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul, a humanoid android named EveR 6 created history by assuming the role of the orchestra conductor for South Korea's national orchestra.
Developed by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, the robot took the podium, replacing a human conductor, to lead a live performance.
As the audience eagerly awaited the show, EveR 6 made its presence known by bowing before the crowd.
With its finely designed humanoid body, the robot began orchestrating the performance by moving its arms to direct the tempo and guide the musicians through the pieces. It successfully conducted three out of the five musical compositions presented that evening.
Choi Soo-yeoul, who worked alongside the robot during the performance, expressed his surprise at EveR 6's ability to replicate the detailed movements of a conductor.
"The robot was able to execute these intricate gestures even better than I had imagined," Choi remarked.
However, he acknowledged a significant drawback of the robot, noting that it lacked the ability to listen to the music.
What people had to say
An avid Korean music lover, Lee Young-ju, who was an audience member at the National Theater of Korea that day, said the robot's moves, though impeccable in keeping the rhythm, lacked “breath” — or the ability to keep the orchestra ready to engage collectively and instantly — which was key in performance according to him.
“It seemed there was some work to be done for the robot to do the job,” Lee said.
EveR 6's performance seemed to be at a very basic level, opined Song In-ho, a 62-year-old audience member.
“I guess it would be able to do the conducting all by itself when it's equipped with artificial intelligence to understand and analyze the music,” Song said.
“It was a recital that showed that (robots and humans) can co-exist and complement each other, rather than one replacing the other,” Choi said after the concert.
While EveR 6's debut as a conductor drew mixed reviews, it marked a significant milestone in the realm of musical innovation. As technology continues to advance, the possibilities for robots and humans to collaborate and enrich various fields, including the arts, appear promising.
The transformative potential of androids like EveR 6 serves as a reminder that human creativity and technological progress can go hand in hand, shaping a future where machines and individuals thrive in mutual synergy.