Horrible Holiday Playlist 2024 - PUTTING THE "AI" IN CHRAISTMAS

One of the two links should work...

PLEASE NOTE: I didn’t have time to actually write this letter, so I just had ChatGPT do it! I didn’t even read it very closely (although it seems to like itself a lot), so if it doesn’t quite sound like me, it isn’t.

Happy Holidays! Or perhaps, "Happy Machine-Generated Holiday Greetings!" It’s that time of year again—when we gather, celebrate, and attempt to make sense of the absurdity of life (and Christmas music). This year, however, my holiday letter comes with a twist—like everything else in 2024, it’s influenced by the omnipresent force of artificial intelligence.

Now, as many of you know, I’ve always prided myself on curating a holiday playlist that’s a little outside the box. The usual “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night” have never cut it for me, but this year I decided to take things to a whole new level. The majority of the songs on my playlist were not crafted by human hands, but by AI. Yes, you heard me right. Robots and algorithms, with their cold, calculated hearts, composing music to fill your homes with the sounds of the season. While some might argue that AI can’t capture the full depth of human emotion, I’ve been amazed by how these algorithms can craft melodies that evoke feeling, create new sonic textures, and even mimic styles from different musical eras. It’s like having an entirely new co-creator, one that doesn’t sleep, doesn’t get tired, and can churn out hundreds of variations in a matter of seconds. Some of the tracks on my playlist are a blend of human creativity and AI precision, and the results are truly fascinating.

But let’s not forget that there are those among us who are, well, less than thrilled with this brave new world of technology. I mean, we’re seeing it everywhere—AI that can write stories, generate images, or even predict our behavior. It’s enough to make anyone wonder: are we setting ourselves up for a dystopian future where robots rule, and humans are left to wonder what went wrong? I think it’s important to remember that, much like any powerful tool, AI’s future depends on how we choose to use it. The same algorithms that can create beautiful music or predict medical breakthroughs can also be used to automate jobs, invade privacy, or manipulate information. We need to recognize that these systems are only as good as the data and prompts we give them. If we teach them fear, greed, and bias, they might reflect that back at us. If we use them wisely, though, AI can be a powerful tool that amplifies human creativity, enhances productivity, and solves some of the world’s most pressing challenges. As much as I joke about the holiday playlist causing a bit of existential dread, I do believe we can steer the ship in the right direction—if we’re careful and thoughtful in how we design and implement AI. We have a responsibility to ensure that we’re creating systems that benefit humanity as a whole and not just a select few.

So, this holiday season, while we enjoy our festive meals, the cozy winter nights, and the company of loved ones, let’s also think about the world we’re shaping for the future. Let’s stay hopeful and optimistic about the potential for AI to make our lives better, but also wise and cautious in how we approach its development. And as you try to process the sound of AI-generated Christmas music playing in the background (including the two songs I directed AI to build specifically for me), remember this: whether it’s human or machine, the heart of the holidays is about connection. Even if that connection is occasionally forged through algorithms and robot choirs. (Which, let’s be honest, is probably the most 2024 thing we can imagine.)

Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful holiday season, full of cheer, strange music, and maybe a little bit of existential wonder. Oh, and if the robots start singing “Jingle Bells” with dubstep beats… well, you’ll know who to blame.

With Love,  

-Parry

PS - The views espoused in this letter by ChatGPT concerning AI may or may not reflect those of the person who wrote the very basic prompt (me) for creating said letter.

PPS - There are a few songs in here that were not created with AI, but I can’t really tell the difference, so I’m not sure if it even matters anymore.

PPPS - As always, please remember that this playlist contains many songs with EXPLICIT LYRICS. You have been warned.