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Inferno, AI and Transhumanism

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 8:23 pm
by Cupz
Maybe its the SOMA replay, but I love how semi-artificial everything on inferno sounds, like flesh (found samples and musique concrete) merging with the digital (tight syncopated rythms, fm synthesis and vocoders) and something about the mind detaching itself from the physical real. The voices are so crisp and unreal, uncanny. Even clearer than the original samples. The TTS on The Process I am pretty sure was created using machine learning on human speech (sounds a bit like PIPER to me). And now I read somewhere that Mike used to study AI and machine learning? Not sure if relevant. Does their studio contain a super computer with hardware capable of generating new sounds based on their own heavily curated database of samples? Do the brothers worship roko's basilisk?

Re: Inferno, AI and Transhumanism

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 10:51 pm
by apriorion
I thought it was Marcus who studied AI, while Mike studied music.

Re: Inferno, AI and Transhumanism

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 11:47 pm
by Cupz
Oh woops I meant to say that

Re: Inferno, AI and Transhumanism

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2026 11:55 pm
by Widmerpool
No wonder. SOMA is a ludonarrative masterpiece, one that bears multiple playthroughs and sundry layers of interpretation.

I ain't tech-savvy enough to even grasp it, but every instance of sampling of Inferno betrays the consummate, obsessive craftwork tha bros are known for. It sets a yet unparalelled standard for voice manipulation. Uncanny is a fitting word. Everything points to Marcus as the culprit, but who knows.

It looks decidedly tied to transhumanism and not in a light-hearted way, though after countless listens I'm still grasping at straws as to its intent. Hopefully it'll reveal itself in Space and Time.