Epic 2014

Robin Sloan describes using machine learning to generate fictional music for the audiobook of his novel Sourdough, explaining how SampleRNN learned from Croatian klapa singing. He discusses how artists can treat machine learning as a creative instrument, especially when people can guide and curate its output. The conversation also explores robots in kitchens, the interplay of technology and older crafts, and the fragility of digital projects as platforms change. Sloan reflects on social media, the history of blogs, and writing hopeful fiction about technology without ignoring its costs.