Generative AI & Fast Food

“What is your take on Generative AI?” - This question was posed to me recently, after I mentioned Sound Particles is a Deep Tech company.

(Yes. We do way more than just create industry leading plugins.)

This was my response.

I believe Generative AI will have a similar impact as Fast Food has had on the Food Service industry.

When White Castle introduced the concept of fast food 115 or so yrs ago, and in the decades that followed, the status quo was challenged in a parallel way. Did fast food restaurants kill fine dining? Absolutely not. The industry found its sweet spots. Among other things fast food allowed people to try a new dish, or even a new cuisine without the emotional & financial commitment associated with a fine dining experience.

The disruption also brought forth a new category right in the middle. Food that is fast to cook, yet with a fine dining quality to it. Pictured is one such Portuguese meal we made couple weeks ago. Batatas a Murro (Punched potatoes cooked in salt) with grilled beans and grilled sardines. Roughly one hour from preparation to plate-ing; and literally one of the easiest (and tastiest) dinners we have ever made.

One parallel scenario I envision is Generative AI creating new Temp Music workflows.

Imagine a Screenwriter being able to listen to Temp Music created near-realtime, based on the paragraph she wrote just a few minutes ago. Music with elements set in an imaginary world she literally just created with words.

Or a picture editor further inspired by temp music shortened near-real time by Generative AI, as he is making cuts. Imagine the Music Editor now being able to use 90% of her time to make creative decisions, instead of doing just technical conforming. Now imagine hundreds of similar, new workflows that do not exist yet.

To conclude, I believe generative AI is here to stay. Once the dust settles it will serve specific purposes, create new workflows that simply do not exist today. Workflows that will raise the creative bar higher than what is currently possible. It will also, I firmly believe, democratize access to creative tools for a wide range of marginalized groups.

Change is never easy for us humans. However, let us not forget growth literally is, change.

Let us embrace growth, come out of our collective Chrysalis. The next stage of our creative life cycle is here.

Let us slowly spread our wings, for it is time to soar.

#generativeAI #artificialintelligence #music #workflows

Bilingual Brain. Challenges & Benefits.

I have an accent when I speak. 

This very accent of mine, is one of my biggest sources of courage & growth. 

How ? Let me explain. 

Speaking with an accent does not mean I communicate badly. In fact this means I communicate better, in multiple languages. In theory, this should empower me.

Except. 

Imagine major stage fright every time you are about to say a single word in English. Imagine stage fright when you are about to say your own name ! Yup. Saying my name, ‘Tony’ is something my brain still flags.

When I first arrived in the U.S. I looked up accent reduction/ modification programs. I remember those programs cost ~$60/Hr. With a daily meal budget of $3 at the time, those programs were way beyond my reach. 

So I decided to step out of my comfort zone, get a retail job where I’d have no choice but talk to people. You know, I thought it was not a terrible idea to get paid while I got my accent neutralized.

I was very fortunate. The amazing humans - recruiters & hiring team - gave my skills a chance and I landed in a retail job I so thoroughly loved. Apple Retail benefitted from my unique audio background, and I thought my accent was getting better (Ha! I wish).

Few years later I interviewed here at Avid for my current role. Knowing the role is customer facing, I brought up the topic with my then Manager Greg "Stryke" Chin, in an email titled ‘The Elephant in the room’. I wrote how I was willing to work on my accent.

He did not respond to the email. Instead he called me immediately. He patiently explained how he’d be disappointed if I did anything of the sort. During the next few minutes he helped me get out of the self imposed shame I had placed on myself, regarding my accent. That day he got promoted - from my manager, to my mentor.

I am still aware of my accent when I speak. At times, acutely so. 

Difference is, all that stage fright now shapes my courage. I find it natural to step out of my comfort zone - without a second thought. I now dare to take more calculated risks. Risks that have helped me grow so much more than I had ever imagined. 

I remain grateful for the opportunities, for all the DEI efforts in place at my former employer Apple & my current employer Avid.  

I write this as a gesture of gratitude to each of you who champion DEI efforts in a professional setting. Your work matters a lot. Thank you ! 

This is also a reminder to myself, and to those of you with an accent. Having an accent is in fact an empowering opportunity. A opportunity not everyone has access to. Use it to your advantage.

I for one, certainly will.

P.S. Based on the TED talk I have linked here, bilingualism comes with other benefits too !

#DEI #teamavid #accent #bilingual #workplaceculture #stepoutofyourcomfortzone #growthmindset #opportunity #grateful

https://www.ted.com/talks/mia_nacamulli_the_benefits_of_a_bilingual_brain?language=en

Expectations…

Setting the expectation that you will get a goldfish to climb a tree in 24 hrs is not going to help the goldfish - or you.

Meeting expectations is very important.

Even more important, is setting the right expectations.

#work #ethic #worklifebalance #worksmart

• Grab every opportunity (even the risky ones) by its horns. •

Early 2011. I had just finished commissioning Mr. Rahman’s Los Angeles Studio, complete with a Euphonix System 5 console. 

We had just discussed how I might need a few weeks to learn the console, which was totally new to me. As I sat in the studio browsing the user guide for System 5, doorbell rang. I opened the door to see the one & only Michael Bolton standing there !!! A casual conversation over coffee between the two legends soon turned into “How about we record a song ?”. 

As they both looked at me I sat there petrified, in a state of shock. My brain suggested I come up with an excuse, bail out. However my heart and my gut told me to grab this opportunity by its horns. 

I did just that.  

I could have been burnt - badly. 
However. As the evening progressed I would go on to successfully cut Michael Bolton’s vocals for Sajna Re. The track got released in Mr. Bolton’s album “Gems: The Duets Collection”. 

The song is a constant reminder to me. On the importance of trying & the importance of having faith. The recording went well because of the faith I had in myself & because of the faith that my friend-boss-mentor AR sab had in me. 

Sometimes all we need to do is to take a leap of faith. 

If you’ve read this far: Keep learning, never stop trying and, try something out of your comfort zone today !

#music #mentor #arrahman #michaelbolton #logicprox #avid #protools #euphonix #system5 #bowerswilkins #recording #mixing #engineering #takealeap #faithoverfear 

I wanted to give up...

- About 20 yrs ago, when the possibility of attending a single live concert of A.R. Rahman seemed close to impossible. A mere visit to an Avid office seemed equally impossible at the time.

- When the twenty something old me was told I was too young to lead a team at a major broadcaster - despite my vision, qualifications & experience being a direct match to their requirements.

- When I found out my American & European colleagues (at pretty much every single company I worked for whilst in Dubai) were making ~70% more than me & my asian colleagues - because of their nationality.

- When telephone interviewers went “Oh !” in response to my hello (after hearing my accent) and then ghosting on me, far more times than I cared to count.

- Last week, when I was loosing faith in a few things I’ve been working on.

However.
I yet have to give up.
In fact, I chose to double down. Since then…

- I have had the chance to work closely with ARR Sab (For close to 15 yrs now).

- I get to work for Avid, doing what I love the most. Every single day.

- I recalibrated myself & decided to triple down on everything I doubted last week.

Being neither a virtuoso nor a prodigy, chances of me landing in a gig with ARR Sab or Avid was close to Zero. Aside from a very supportive family & an abundance of luck, I have one special trick up my sleeve.

I refuse to give up.

This note is a nod to the young me who never gave up & a (much needed) reminder to my present self, to not give up.

More importantly, I hope this note inspires at least one person - To not give up. Not today.

What you wish for will come to you. Not when you expect it, but when - you - are ready.

Pictured: My first keyboard ever. A sign of my parents trust in the 10 yr old me. The keyboard still works, and is now used by my children. ☺️

#donotgiveup #reflection #careerjourney #perseverance