Redefining the User in Human-Generative AI Collaboration: Insights from Music Composition

The rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is transforming the role of end users. We investigate human-AI collaboration in music composition as an illustrative example. Existing studies analyze the impact of current AI music models on composers, focusing on challenges and strategies for interaction. However, these studies often neglect the multifaceted nature of music composition, influenced by personal aspirations, social and cultural context, and distinct genre characteristics. We propose an ethnographic approach to explore composers’ practices and needs, which can inform the design of human-AI collaborative tools that empower and support them.