터틀맨의 귀환: 제어 가능한 인공지능의 혜택

Abstract

The Turtles, a once popular music group in South Korea, performed together again in 2020, years after the leader of the group, Turtleman (Sŏnghun Im) had passed away. For the performance, they re-created Turtleman on stage through hologram technology and AI machine learning (voice synthesis and “face editing”). This performance was broadcast on TV (Once Again: AI Music Project, Mnet, Dec. 9, 2020), and later its clips were transmitted via Youtube. The two clips that include the re-created Turtleman’s performance have acquired more than 10 million views in total. Based on the analysis of the music program Once Again and the audience response to the two clips of The Turtles’ performance on Youtube, this research argues that, despite the general concerns about the negative influence of AI on human society, The Turtles’ performance utilizing AI technology gained far more positive responses than negative ones, due to the presentation of the AI technology as being under human control and redressive to the problematic situation of the reality in which The Turtles’ ability to perform was halted abruptly by the demise of Turtleman against the wishes of the remaining members of the group, their fans, and Turtleman’s family. At the time when the debates on the development of AI technology are accelerating, this paper provides an opportunity to consider its cultural implications through a concrete case study.