12:10Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
Thoughtful Things Unveils AI-Powered Engram Musical Instrument
Thoughtful Things has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its first musical instrument, Engram. Engram is a music device that records and processes incoming audio and can also be used to create rhythms. The device can use artificial intelligence to deliberately distort sound and create entirely new sounds. The goal is not to produce a finished song but to work with strange and experimental sounds.
Engram does not connect to the internet. A small artificial intelligence model developed and specially trained by the company runs directly on the device. Thoughtful Things says it trained the model using only open audio libraries licensed under CC-BY and similar licenses that permit commercial use. The company emphasizes that it did not use pirated or stolen material or material not authorized for commercial use. The device’s internal software will be open to users, and they will also be able to load their own models onto the device. In the campaign video, founder Evan King asks the device to create a piano sound using his voice. In response, Engram produces a sound that resembles a piano but is filled with digital noise. King describes the device as “a field recorder for a hidden space.” The device was inspired by a method of altering electronic circuits to produce unexpected sounds. Users can deliberately disrupt the artificial intelligence model’s parameters to obtain different sounds. Engram will be produced in limited quantities as part of the campaign. The entry-level pledge tier starts at 675 dollars (approximately 1150 manats). Thoughtful Things has not yet announced the regular retail price. Because the campaign price is listed at a 30 percent discount, the final price is expected to be 850 - 900 dollars (approximately 1450 - 1530 manats). This means the device could be sold for significantly more after the campaign than through the entry-level tier.
Engram does not connect to the internet. A small artificial intelligence model developed and specially trained by the company runs directly on the device. Thoughtful Things says it trained the model using only open audio libraries licensed under CC-BY and similar licenses that permit commercial use. The company emphasizes that it did not use pirated or stolen material or material not authorized for commercial use. The device’s internal software will be open to users, and they will also be able to load their own models onto the device. In the campaign video, founder Evan King asks the device to create a piano sound using his voice. In response, Engram produces a sound that resembles a piano but is filled with digital noise. King describes the device as “a field recorder for a hidden space.” The device was inspired by a method of altering electronic circuits to produce unexpected sounds. Users can deliberately disrupt the artificial intelligence model’s parameters to obtain different sounds. Engram will be produced in limited quantities as part of the campaign. The entry-level pledge tier starts at 675 dollars (approximately 1150 manats). Thoughtful Things has not yet announced the regular retail price. Because the campaign price is listed at a 30 percent discount, the final price is expected to be 850 - 900 dollars (approximately 1450 - 1530 manats). This means the device could be sold for significantly more after the campaign than through the entry-level tier.