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AR Rahman joins forces with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for his AI project Secret Mountain, a musical metaverse

AR Rahman meets OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to discuss ‘Secret Mountain,’ a virtual global band project blending AI and music to uplift Indian creators and reimagine storytelling.

AR Rahman’s metaverse band ‘Secret Mountain’ gets AI boost from Sam Altman

Two-time Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman recently shared a photo with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, teasing their collaboration for the singer’s AI-powered project. Rahman met Altman at his office, where the two discussed and explored ways to empower Indian creators while also tackling the generational challenges using artificial intelligence. In his post shared Friday on Instagram, Rahman tagged Altman and revealed they were brainstorming on “Secret Mountain,” his upcoming virtual global band project that aims to fuse sound and code into something game-changing.

“It was a pleasure meet @sama at his office …we discussed ‘Secret Mountain’, our virtual global band, and to empower and uplift Indian minds to use AI tools to address generational challenges and lead the way forward,” Rahman wrote on social media alongside the picture of two smiling for the camera.

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What is AR Rahman’s Secret Mountain project?

Back on February 14, 2024, AR Rahman posted a nearly five-minute video on YouTube, titled “Introducing the Secret Mountain.” Fans were confused with the sudden update, but it turned out to be a tease for what Rahman was planning. The video started with, “Hey I’m Luna, let me tell you a story. Like most of us, I have been wandering the jungle instead of gratification, dooms of scrolling.” The video teased the introduction of innovation through enhanced storytelling set in a mystical metaverse world. It tells the story of Luna, a young woman who is transported to the world of Secret Mountain, where she meets different musical characters from various cultural backgrounds, each with a different style.

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Also read: AR Rahman jokes about Andy Byron’s Coldplay video but promises ‘not to get anyone in trouble’; Kartik Aaryan caught cheating. Watch

Rahman often relies on wisdom rather than leaning on “muscle memory,” and is known for making music without direct reference to film scenes. This is where he gets his inspiration from to come up with his new project. “I consciously avoid repetition,” Rahman explained on his website. “AI can be a starting point,” he noted, adding, “but the human element, the emotional depth and creativity, remains irreplaceable.” Through this project, he will bring singers and mentors from around the world onto one platform, including Ireland, China, Africa, and India, to show how music can surpass geographical boundaries. The project is called “Meta Band” and aims to provide an immersive experience.

Also read: AR Rahman shares excitement about collaborating with Hans Zimmer for Ramayana: ‘Who would have thought…’

Rahman is collaborating with the Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer on the music for the upcoming two-part Ramayana adaptation, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor. Rahman won his Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle.

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