Artificial intelligence experts question if machines can ever be truly creative

Leading experts in artificial intelligence (AI) debated whether machines can ever be truly creative during an event at Imperial College London. The panel debate was part of the Night of Ideas, a programme of free debates exploring the latest ideas behind issues central to our times organised by the Institut Français. Academics from Imperial and other London institutions, were joined by a director from Spotify to talk about their latest research involving AI and discussed the creativity potential of computer software. The experts debated how developments in AI were enabling machines to produce music and paintings but questioned whether this meant they were being truly creative and should be recognised as artists in their own right. Dr Aldo Faisal, from the Department of Bioengineering and Department of Computing, gave his thoughts on what is powering the AI revolution.