An excerpt from my conversation with Dr. Quentin Angus.
How do you think AI will influence the future of Pickup and music education more broadly?
Net positive for us, for now — I don't see it as a big existential risk.
A lot of that comes down to the fact that guitar, bass, and piano are mechanical instruments that you physically play. It's a very analog hobby, and most of our members are hobbyists. There's something almost counter to AI about spending time away from a screen, practicing a physical instrument — and I think that's going to become more valuable, not less, in the same way we increasingly appreciate going to the gym, going for a run, or going out to dinner. Those analog experiences matter.
Short-term, it's mostly a productivity boost — we can do more with less. I can dream up an idea, understand who the user is, and execute it much faster through these tools. It's changing week to week, which is exciting.