Podcast Summary: A Songwriting Battle With My AI Clone

Podcast: TED Talks Daily
Host: Elise Hu
Guest: Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd
Date: February 7, 2026

Main Theme

This episode explores the intersection of music, creativity, and artificial intelligence. Host Elise Hu sits down with acclaimed songwriter/producer Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd to discuss the evolving role of AI in music-making, the irreplaceable human element in songwriting, and the future of live music in a tech-saturated world. The episode culminates in a unique live experiment: a songwriting "battle" between Poo Bear and an AI tool called Suno.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Human Soul in Music (03:28–05:00)

• Elise Hu sets the stage by framing music as a "uniquely powerful window into [the] soul," pondering if AI might ever surpass human-made music in evoking feeling.
• Memorable quote:

  "Will there come a time when AI can move people in a more soulful way than human made music can? And what would that mean?" — Elise Hu (00:58)

What Makes a Great Song (05:00–06:35)

• Poo Bear’s definition:
  "A great song is a frequency that is simple but effective. So simple enough for a child to be able to remember and sing along, but effective enough to fire off neurons in a brilliant mind." (05:07)
• He believes the best songs find a balance between simplicity and effectiveness that appeals to both novices and experts.

Evolving Technology in Music Production (06:35–08:48)

• Poo Bear recalls his career from the 1990s to now: starting with analog reels, adapting to Pro Tools, using plugins and AutoTune.
• Admits AI is a tool he wishes he’d adopted sooner, as it’s now becoming essential in the industry.
• Quote:

  "If you didn't really evolve into [digital tools], you kind of were left behind." — Poo Bear (05:50)

AI in Creative Work: Boon or Threat? (08:48–11:04)

• Poo Bear uses AI not to generate music, but to brainstorm concepts, research topics efficiently, and check for song originality to avoid copyright issues.
• He acknowledges AI's value but is cautious, emphasizing:

  “AI has never had its heart broken... never been in love.” (10:38)

• He feels AI cannot truly replicate the human soul, though it may one day come close, and candidly discusses his initial reluctance to use AI out of fear it would diminish his creative self-worth.

The Creative “Soul” Versus the Algorithm (11:04–14:18)

• Discussion around distinguishing between AI-generated and human-made music — Poo Bear can typically tell the difference, but admits there are poorly written songs from both AI and humans.
• Expresses optimism that established artists with defined "sounds" will remain in demand, but raises concerns about the challenges facing up-and-coming songwriters and the ease of cloning styles with AI.

  “For up and coming songwriters and producers that don’t have that sound yet, I do feel like it’s going to become more difficult for them...they’ll be battling AI, literally.” (12:29)

The Need for Legal and Ethical Guardrails (12:29–15:09)

• Poo Bear advocates for regulations to protect creative work:

  “Just being able to protect the creatives that have spent a lot of time, a lot of years investing in creating a sound, just for AI not to be able to completely rip off our everything.” (12:45)

• Suggests possible future for song authentication technology and copyright safeguards.

Historical Parallels & Patterns in Music Tech (15:09–18:02)

• Analogizes the AI era to the synthesizer revolution of the 1980s — initial excitement, a period where “real” instruments were less valued, and an eventual return to craving authentic sounds.

  “It always circles back around to the authenticity...the analog sound, the warmth, the human, the soul factor.” (16:43–17:09)

The Future of Live Music (18:02–21:13)

• Despite technological change (streaming, VR, pandemic impacts), there's a renewed hunger for in-person experiences.
• Live music is becoming more expensive, which could limit access for fans.
• Poo Bear predicts new models (e.g., sponsor-funded concerts) to keep live music accessible:

  “We've been testing some concerts...having brands come in and say, ‘I'm going to pay the artist...we’re going to give a free concert.’” (19:06)

Feature Segment: Songwriting Battle — Human vs. AI

Setup & Approach (21:17–23:18)

• What happens: Poo Bear and his team improvise a new song, with live audience help supplying conceptual prompts.
• The AI tool Suno is tasked with generating its own version of a song using the same prompt.
• Humorous moment:

  “I’m going to battle Suno, the digital version of myself...if Suno beats me, it’s totally fine. I'm okay with it.” — Poo Bear (22:11)

The Human Songwriting Process (24:09–31:09)

• Poo Bear elicits concepts from the audience (“Broke, but not broken,” “Wise voice but voiceless,” “Starting over”), chooses "starting over."
• Crafts a hook and post-hook live, building melody and lyrics collaboratively.
• Shares his creative process — trial and error, loop recording, improvisation — giving a “studio” feel to the TED stage.

Notable exchanges:

• On choosing prompts:

  “Can I get some little weight, some less intelligent concepts...Let’s go to middle school. Starting Over. Ninja Turtles. I’m going to go with starting over.” — Poo Bear (24:10)

• On creativity:

  “I believe in making hooks that are questions, but like rhetorical questions that we kind of know the answer to.” (24:56)

The AI Songwriting Process & Results (32:19–34:27)

• Suno quickly generates a song based on the same prompt and style.
• The AI’s lyrics are revealed:

  “Should we be starting over? Chasing what we lost in the clover. The cracks are wide but the heart still sober. Oh, should we try?” — Suno/AI (33:29)

• Mixed audience reaction: AI is quick, but the output feels less coherent and soulful.

Poo Bear's verdict:

“That was the digital version...I’m not sure if it made a lot of sense, but it’s okay.” (34:27)

Final Comparisons & Reflections (34:50–35:52)

• The human-created hook and post-hook are played back; the energy in the room signals the impact of the live, human touch.
• Poo Bear’s take-home message:

  “I hope this proves that we still...we’re gonna always need human soul, but...let’s incorporate human soul forever.” (35:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “AI has never had its heart broken, you know, AI has never been in love.” — Poo Bear (10:38)
• “I don’t think you can really...get that [feeling]...you can have your VR set on and still, like, be lonely and be alone, you know?” — Poo Bear (19:55)
• “Let’s not count it [AI] out, but let's incorporate human soul forever.” — Poo Bear (35:52)

Important Timestamps

• (03:28): Live musical performance, “Caught Up”
• (05:07): Poo Bear on what makes a great song
• (10:02): Can AI replicate the human soul?
• (18:50): Future of live music access
• (22:11): Setup for the human vs. AI songwriting battle
• (24:09–31:09): Poo Bear creates a song live on-stage
• (33:29): Suno (AI) presents its version of the song
• (34:50): Human performance played back; final reflections

Tone

The episode balances curiosity, humility, and humor, always circling back to an appreciation for human creativity and the "soul" in music. It's both optimistic about integrating AI tools and protective of the irreplaceably human.

Takeaway

AI is quickly transforming music creation, but, as this live experiment proves, the ineffable, lived emotional experience behind human songwriting still connects with listeners in a way that code alone can't replicate. The future, Poo Bear suggests, isn’t about choosing sides — it’s about embracing helpful tools while holding onto what makes art meaningfully human.