Just because we can hear doesn’t mean we’re great at listening. And even if we’re good listeners, there’s always room for improvement. There’s a ton of info out there about why listening is so important, but let’s dive into a fun example.
Remember when AI models used to mess up simple tasks like counting the Rs in “strawberry”? They’ve come a long way, and so can we with our listening skills. Besides that, to get better, more accurate results, we need to provide additional details (parameters, prompt engineering). We need to ask ourselves, what other details we need to provide for the AI engine to better understand what we are looking for.
It got me thinking about this while listening to my music library with my various headphones. Each type—wired, wireless, in-ear—has its perks and quirks. Depending on the music genre, I pick specific headphones. Classical, jazz, live pop—you name it, I’ve got the perfect pair.
Listening to music this way has sharpened my listening skills. When I focus on different instruments like the guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards, I’m not just hearing the music; I’m dissecting it. I analyze the production, the mix, and the arrangement to understand what the artists are trying to convey. This deep dive into music helps me listen better in conversations too.
When I talk to someone, I try to break down what they’re saying, how they’re saying it, what they’re NOT saying, and the emotions behind their words. It’s like listening to a song in a different language—you need to understand the culture and background to get it.
Growing up, I learned a few languages, which helped me keep an open mind and absorb details better. Whether someone’s speaking French or Armenian, I don’t just switch on my mental translation mode. I also switch to thinking in that language, turn on my knowledge of that language/culture, and tune into their unique way of expressing themselves.
Now, about the AK47 and M16 firearm sounds—yeah, I can tell them apart. Growing up and surviving through my teenage years in a political and civil conflict in a third-world country, I had to learn these sound signatures. This is my way of trying to take something positive from the terrible years and events of my teenage years. I do NOT condone gun violence. I learned from this experience that one aspect of listening is categorizing sounds with minimal emotional biases.
The point is, we learn from our environment, experiences, and open-mindedness. When we listen, we should minimize our biases and expectations to make others feel safe and open up. It’s like listening to someone in a different language; we need to understand their words and where they’re coming from.
So, let’s keep working on our listening skills. Listen with an open mind to better understand, ask the right questions, connect, and improve our listening skills.
#AI #listening #music
