Björk’s "Nature Manifesto" on AI and a Post-Optimistic World

Recently, the legendary Icelandic singer Björk collaborated with artist Aleph Molinari at the Centre Pompidou to present an immersive sound installation titled "Nature Manifesto." The project employs AI technology to recreate the sounds of extinct creatures, integrating them with Björk's narration to encourage reflection on the ecological crisis. It explores how AI, often perceived as "unnatural," can offer new perspectives on understanding nature.

Björk and French artist Aleph join forces to produce the sound installation "Nature Manifesto." (Source: X)

The technical expertise behind this piece originates from the renowned IRCAM in Paris. Their team utilized software and AI models to merge historical recordings of extinct animals with natural soundscapes, alongside Björk's spoken manifesto and compositions. Picture Björk's voice interwoven with the chirping of birds, saying, "It's an emergency now. The apocalypse has already happened, but what we do next matters most." Alternatively, "At the intersection of all things, where perceptions intertwine, the web of life reveals new possibilities."

While using technology to depict nature is not new, Björk's perspective—termed "post-optimism"—is particularly noteworthy. In essence, she acknowledges ecological collapse but rejects Western guilt and inaction. She emphasizes life's resilience—not only in the ability of organisms to adapt, but in the necessity for humans to actively evolve. Ultimately, it envisions humanity "mutating"—perhaps through technology—to keep pace with our rapidly changing environment.

"Nature Manifesto" was recently exhibited at the Centre Pompidou's iconic external escalator, the "Caterpillar," symbolically connecting industrial civilization to nature. (Source: Centre Pompidou)

Björk's Take on AI: Humanity Must Infuse AI with Soul

This might sound a bit mystical, but Björk's interview with Dazed sheds light on her perspective on AI technology. She emphasizes the need to clarify the impact of technology across different levels and recognizes that this understanding is an ever-evolving process:

"Whenever new technology emerges, pessimism about it arises. When the telephone was invented, people said we'd never talk face-to-face again. I think we need to clarify the moral implications of technology and its meaning on every level—social, personal, and political. This is how we've approached the internet over the past twenty years, finding where the boundaries lie. It's an ongoing process, not a simple yes-or-no question."

Drawing on her experiences with technology in music creation, Björk makes a compelling point: instead of criticizing technology for lacking soul, we should focus on infusing technology, computers, and AI with soul. She reflects, "I’ve had this discussion every time I included a drum machine on one of my records, and people would say, ‘Oh, this album has no soul.’ But the computer isn’t meant to inject soul into music—that’s the human’s job. Besides, I’ve heard plenty of soulless guitar music." (A sharp jab, indeed!)

A Musical Evolution in Step with Technology

In 2011, Björk released Biophilia, an album exploring the relationship between technology and nature. The title, meaning "love of life," reflects the album's theme. It was released as an app, with each of its 10 songs presented as a separate app, each featuring unique "gameplay."

In 2015, she released Vulnicura, accompanied by the music video for "Stonemilker," which was presented in VR. She later introduced her virtual avatar in another song, "Notget." Her subsequent VR tour, Björk Digital, included a collaboration with HTC VIVE. In 2019, she took this innovation further by releasing the entire album in VR format, available on VIVEPORT.

In 2019, Björk released Vulnicura as a VR concept album. (Source: Björk)

As Björk herself puts it, "I may be a singer, but ninety percent of what I do is me in front of a laptop, editing." This statement underscores her deep connection with technology in music creation. She also notes that the word "techno" originates from the Greek tékhnē, meaning art or craft, emphasizing that technology can embody emotion without contradicting its essence. Just as a paintbrush or oil paints can produce emotionally rich works under Van Gogh's hand, AI can serve as a tool for humans to express and imbue emotions.

Whether or not Björk's avant-garde music resonates with you, her legendary career—spanning from the 1970s to today, including her recent sound installation Nature Manifesto—is a testament to the evolving relationship between humanity and music technology. Looking ahead, we may even witness an album created by Björk in collaboration with AI.