AKB48新歌由AI创作

近日，日本偶像团体AKB48新歌由AI创作，引发热议。

今天你练听力了吗？

🤔️小作业：

1. The tone of Yasushi Akimoto's comments before the contest can best be described as:

A. Defensive and dismissive

B. Philosophical and open-minded

C. Competitive and aggressive

D. Bitter and resentful

无注释原文：

Japanese girl group release AI-assisted single after fan vote

From: BBC

One of Japan's biggest girl groups, AKB48, have released a single that was partially generated by artificial intelligence, after a televised songwriting contest.

The competition saw composer Yasushi Akimoto, whose songs have collectively sold more than 100 million copies, go head-to-head with an "AI Akimoto" trained on his writing style.

They each composed a new song for AKB48 as the group celebrated their 20th anniversary. Fans were presented with both tracks and asked to vote for their favourite.

The results were announced live on Japanese TV - with the AI song, Omoide Scroll, winning by more than 3,000 votes. "What? You're kidding me!" Akimoto responded as the scores were revealed.

The song has now been uploaded to streaming services as AKB48's 67th official single.

The real Akimoto's song, called Cécile, has been deleted from YouTube.

The Japanese music industry will be watching closely to see how fans react to Omoide Scroll, now they know it was machine-generated.

Japan's Oricon singles chart will provide the ultimate litmus test - as AKB48's last 53 songs have gone to number one. If their new record breaks that streak, it may be regarded as a rejection of the technology.

In the run-up to the contest, Akimoto was philosophical about the process. "Everyone keeps asking me, 'What will you do if you lose?'," he said.

"It's fascinating to think that AI could create such a great song, and I'm looking forward to it. I'd like to hear [fans] say, 'I never thought of that!'"

When the votes were counted, the AI won by 14,225 votes to Akimoto's 10,535.

Speaking on live television, the musician admitted he was "disappointed" by the loss. "That's a shame. I wrote it with all my might," he said.

The AI program was also asked for a response, and commented: "Maybe the real me was trying to show something new by losing this time." "Shut up!" Akimoto retorted, prompting laughter in the studio.

The composer was comforted by Grammy-winning jazz musician Hiromi Uehara and former AKB48 singer Sashihara Rino, who encouraged a rematch.

Akimoto laughed off the suggestion, but expressed frustration about technology's ability to mine data and find the "maximum common denominator".

However, he conceded: "I think the AI song is a good song."

- ◆ -

注：完整题目见本文开头；中文文本为机器翻译并非一一对应，仅供参考

含注释全文：

Japanese girl group release AI-assisted single after fan vote

From: BBC

One of Japan's biggest girl groups, AKB48, have released a single that was partially generated by artificial intelligence, after a televised songwriting contest.

日本最大型的女子偶像团体之一AKB48，在一场电视播映的作曲比赛，推出了一首部分由人工智能（AI）创作的新单曲。

artificial /ˌɑː.tɪˈfɪʃ.əl/ 表示“人造的，人工的；仿造的”，英文解释为“made by people, often as a copy of something natural”如：clothes made of artificial fibres 人造纤维面料的服装。

The competition saw composer Yasushi Akimoto, whose songs have collectively sold more than 100 million copies, go head-to-head with an "AI Akimoto" trained on his writing style.

比赛由作曲家秋元康──其作品总销量超过一亿张──与一个依照其写作风格训练的“AI秋元”正面交锋。

composer /kəmˈpəʊ.zər/ 表示“（尤指古典音乐的）创作者；作曲者；作曲家”，英文解释为“a person who writes music, especially classical music”。

They each composed a new song for AKB48 as the group celebrated their 20th anniversary. Fans were presented with both tracks and asked to vote for their favourite.

两者各自为庆祝AKB48成立20周年创作新歌，并交由乐迷投票选出最喜爱的作品。

compose /kəmˈpəʊz/ 1）表示“作曲；创作（乐曲、诗歌）；著（书）”，英文解释为“to produce music, poetry, or formal writing”举个🌰：The music was specially composed for the film. 这音乐是专门为该电影创作的。

2）be composed of sth 表示“由…组成，由…构成”，英文解释为“to be formed from various things”举个🌰：Air is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. 空气主要由氮和氧构成。

track /træk/ 作名词，表示“（录制在CD、唱片或磁带上的）一首歌曲；一首乐曲”，英文解释为“A track is one of the songs or pieces of music on a CD, record, or tape.”

也可表示“音轨，声道”，英文解释为“a part of a magnetic strip onto which sound can be recorded, with several tracks on one magnetic strip”举个🌰：I only like two of the ten tracks on this CD. 我只喜欢这张CD上的10首歌曲中的2首。

📍周末多睡2小时抑郁风险降低48%文中提到，作动词，1）表示“跟踪，追踪”，英文解释为“to follow a person or animal by looking for proof that they have been somewhere, or by using electronic equipment”

2）表示“追踪，记录…的进展”，英文解释为“to record the progress or development of something over a period”举个🌰：We continued tracking the plane on our radar. 我们继续用雷达追踪那架飞机。

🎬 电影《博物馆奇妙夜3》（Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb）中的台词提到：You're sort of set up to track my phone? You track my phone? 你装定位追踪我的手机？你竟然追踪我的手机？

The results were announced live on Japanese TV - with the AI song, Omoide Scroll, winning by more than 3,000 votes. "What? You're kidding me!" Akimoto responded as the scores were revealed.

比赛结果在日本电视台直播节目中揭晓，由AI创作的〈回忆卷轴〉（Omoide Scroll）以超过3000票的差距胜出。秋元康在现场得知结果时惊呼：“什么？你在开玩笑吧！”

The song has now been uploaded to streaming services as AKB48's 67th official single.

这首歌现已上架串流平台，成为AKB48的第67张正式单曲。

streaming /ˈstriː.mɪŋ/ 表示“（音频或视频的）流动式接收，在线收听（或收看）”，英文解释为“the activity of listening to or watching sound or video directly from the internet”举个🌰：NTV Sports now comes with free live streaming for mobile devices. NTV体育台现在向用户提供免费的手机直播服务。

The real Akimoto's song, called Cécile, has been deleted from YouTube.

秋元康的作品〈Cécile〉则已从YouTube下架。

The Japanese music industry will be watching closely to see how fans react to Omoide Scroll, now they know it was machine-generated.

日本音乐业界正密切关注粉丝在得知〈回忆卷轴〉这首歌是由人工智能生成后的反应。

Japan's Oricon singles chart will provide the ultimate litmus test - as AKB48's last 53 songs have gone to number one. If their new record breaks that streak, it may be regarded as a rejection of the technology.

AKB48过去的53首单曲全部登上Oricon公信榜冠军，如果这次的新作品无法延续纪录，或会被视为观众对这项技术的否定。

the charts 表示“（每周唱片销量）排行榜”，英文解释为“the lists produced each week of the records with the highest sales”如：the dance charts舞曲排行榜。

chart /tʃɑːt/ 作动词，1）熟词僻义，表示“计划行动步骤；制定（行动计划）”，英文解释为“to arrange a plan of action”举个🌰：She had carefully charted her route to the top of her profession. 她周密地制订了达到她职业巅峰的行动计划。

2）表示“仔细观察；详细记录”，英文解释为“to record or follow the progress or development of sb/sth”举个🌰：We need some sort of graph on which we can chart our progress. 我们需要那种可以在上面标出我们进展的图表。

3）表示“（音乐）进榜，上榜”，英文解释为“(of a record) sell enough copies to enter the music charts at a particular position.”举个🌰：举个🌰：Their first record didn't even chart. 他们的首张唱片连排行榜都没有进。

litmus test /ˈlɪt.məs ˌtest/ 表示“石蕊测试，酸碱测试”，英文解释为“a test to find out if a substance is acid or alkaline”

📍litmus test 石蕊测试，酸碱测试，用于检验物质的酸碱性。引申义上，它指衡量某事物或某人是否符合特定标准的关键性测试（试金石），通常用于政治、道德或决策场景。

streak /striːk/ 1）表示“一阵好运；一阵霉运；（尤指体育比赛或赌博中）顺的时候，背的时候，运气，手气”，英文解释为“a short period of good or bad luck”如：a streak of good luck 运气好的一段时间，a lucky/unlucky streak 运气好/不好的阶段，to hit (= have) a winning streak 碰上顺的时候，to be on a winning/losing streak 赶上顺的/背的时候，举个🌰：Their longest losing streak has been three games. 他们最低迷的时候连输过3场。After winning a couple of bets, he thought he was on a winning streak. 下注赢了几回后，他以为自己红运正当头。

📍张伟丽重夺UFC冠军中提到：win streak/winning streak都可以指“连胜”，原文：Esparza sees a six-fight win streak snapped. 埃斯帕扎的六连胜终结了。

2）表示“（常指不好的）特点，个性特征”，英文解释为“an often unpleasant characteristic that is very different from other characteristics”举个🌰：Her stubborn streak makes her very difficult to work with sometimes. 她固执的性格有时候使人很难和她共事。

3）表示“条纹；条痕”，英文解释为“a long, thin mark that is easily noticed because it is very different from the area surrounding it”举个🌰：Meteors produce streaks of light as they burn up in the earth's atmosphere. 流星在地球大气层中燃烧时会产生一道光痕。

In the run-up to the contest, Akimoto was philosophical about the process. "Everyone keeps asking me, 'What will you do if you lose?'," he said.

比赛前，秋元康语气淡然地说：“大家总问我，万一输了怎么办？”

Run-up表示“(重大事件发生前的) 准备期，预备阶段，前期”，这个词来源于体育，比如跳高或跳远中的“助跑”。在助跑阶段，运动员积蓄力量，为最后的关键一跳做准备。后来这个词被广泛用于形容任何重要事件（如选举、比赛、节日、发布会等）发生前的那段紧张的准备和酝酿时期。

philosophical /ˌfɪləˈsɒfɪkəl/ 1）表示“哲学的”，英文解释为“Philosophical means concerned with or relating to philosophy.”举个🌰：He was more accustomed to cocktail party chatter than to political or philosophical discussions. 比起政治或者哲学讨论，他更习惯于鸡尾酒会上的闲谈。

2）表示“泰然自若的；处乱不惊的；达观的”，英文解释为“Someone who is philosophical does not get upset when disappointing or disturbing things happen.”举个🌰：He has grown philosophical about life. 他对生活已经变得豁达了。

"It's fascinating to think that AI could create such a great song, and I'm looking forward to it. I'd like to hear [fans] say, 'I never thought of that!'"

“AI能创作出这么棒的歌曲，本身就很有意思，我也很期待。我希望能听到粉丝说：‘真没想到会是这样！’”

When the votes were counted, the AI won by 14,225 votes to Akimoto's 10,535.

最终，AI作品以14,225票比10,535票胜出。

Speaking on live television, the musician admitted he was "disappointed" by the loss. "That's a shame. I wrote it with all my might," he said.

秋元康在电视直播中坦言对结果“感到失望”，并说：“真遗憾，我可是全力以赴写的。”

熟词僻义，作名词，表示“力量；威力；能力”，英文解释为“power, strength, or force”举个🌰：She struggled with all her might to get free. 她用尽全力想挣脱出来。

The AI program was also asked for a response, and commented: "Maybe the real me was trying to show something new by losing this time." "Shut up!" Akimoto retorted, prompting laughter in the studio.

主持人也请AI发表感言，它回应道：“或许真正的我，是想藉着这次失败来展现一些新的东西。”秋元康立刻打断说：“闭嘴！”引来现场一片笑声。

prompt /prɒmpt/ 作名词，1）表示“（计算机屏幕上的）提示符（显示计算机已经准备好接受指令）”，英文解释为“a sign on a computer screen that shows that the computer is ready to receive your instructions”

📍在ChatGPT火热的今天，prompt通常指的是给模型的输入，用来激发或引导模型生成特定的输出或回答。简而言之，prompt是指用户提供给语言模型的一段文字或命令，以便模型据此理解用户的需求并给出相应的响应或信息。例如，在与像ChatGPT这样的大语言模型交互时，用户提出的问题或指令就是一个“prompt”。模型会根据这个prompt的内容分析、处理并生成回答或执行相关的任务。Prompt对于大语言模型来说是非常关键的，因为它直接决定了模型如何理解和回应用户的需求。

📍prompt中文里有译为“提示词”，prompt engineering 就是“提示工程/提示词工程”

2）表示“（给演员的）提词，提白”，英文解释为“words that are spoken to an actor who has forgotten what he or she is going to say during the performance of a play”

3）作动词，表示“促使；导致；激起”，英文解释为“to make sb decide to do sth; to cause sth to happen”举个🌰：His speech prompted an angry outburst from a man in the crowd. 他的讲话激起了人群中一男子的愤怒。

📺美剧《斯巴达克斯：血与沙》（Spartacus: Blood and Sand）中的台词提到：One cannot but wonder what would prompt such an act 不知他们为何遭此不幸。

4）作动词，表示“（尤指）给（演员）提词”，英文解释为“to help someone, especially an actor, to remember what they were going to say or do”举个🌰：I forgot my line and had to be prompted. 我忘词了，只好让人提词。

The composer was comforted by Grammy-winning jazz musician Hiromi Uehara and former AKB48 singer Sashihara Rino, who encouraged a rematch.

格莱美获奖爵士钢琴家上原广美，以及AKB48前成员指原莉乃在场安慰他，并鼓励他再比一次。

Akimoto laughed off the suggestion, but expressed frustration about technology's ability to mine data and find the "maximum common denominator".

秋元康笑着婉拒，但对于科技只是透过数据计算去找出最大众化的结果，让他觉得不安。

denominator /dɪˈnɒm.ɪ.neɪ.tər/ 表示“（分数中的）分母”，英文解释为“the number below the line in a fraction”举个🌰：In the fraction ¾, 4 is the denominator. 在分数3/4中，4为分母。

这句话里的“maximum common denominator”是一个非常巧妙的用法，它是由两个常见的短语结合而成的：Least Common Denominator (LCD) - 最低共同标准/最小公分母；Greatest/Largest Common Factor (GCF) - 最大公约数。

1. 核心比喻意义：Least Common Denominator (LCD)

在数学中，最小公分母（LCD）是指一组分数分母的最小公倍数，目的是为了让这些分数能够进行加减运算。在日常比喻中，它的意思发生了转变：“Lowest Common Denominator”指的是为了吸引最广泛、最普通的大众而采用的最简单、最安全、最不具冒犯性的标准或品质。它通常带有贬义，暗示为了迎合大多数人而牺牲了特色、深度或品质。举个🌰：The movie was made for the lowest common denominator, full of cheap jokes and explosions but no story. 这部电影是为了迎合最低共同标准而拍的，全是廉价的笑话和爆炸，毫无故事性。

2.“Maximum Common Denominator” 的巧妙之处

作者将Lowest换成了Maximum，创造了一个新表达，意思是：技术通过挖掘数据，不是为了找到那个“最低”的标准，而是为了精准地找到能吸引尽可能多的不同人群的“最大公约数”（即各种人群兴趣爱好的交汇点）。

结合上下文理解：Akimoto... expressed frustration about technology's ability to mine data and find the 'maximum common denominator'.

mine data 挖掘数据，指通过大数据分析听众的喜好、播放记录、下载行为等。find the 'maximum common denominator' 找到“最大共同分母”；整句话的意思是：秋元康对技术（通过数据分析）能够精准地找出那个能吸引最大规模受众的“流行配方”而感到沮丧（或无奈）。这种“配方”可能是一首歌里应该有多少秒的副歌、用什么类型的乐器、什么样的节奏更容易火等等。

总结一下：Maximum common denominator可以理解为 “最大公约数” 或 “最大共识点”。它描述了一种通过数据分析来实现的商业化、公式化的创作模式，其目标是最大化受众规模，但这常常以牺牲艺术的独特性和创造性为代价。

However, he conceded: "I think the AI song is a good song."

不过，他仍然承认：“我觉得这首AI的歌确实是首好歌。”

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