Engram: a new AI tool for creating experimental sounds

Thoughtful Things, a music startup, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its first product, Engram, an AI-powered sampler and groovebox. Unlike other AI music tools, Engram does not generate ready-to-play songs but instead focuses on creating experimental and uncanny sounds. The device runs a locally hosted 'tiny AI' model, which was developed and trained in-house by the company. It does not connect to the internet, allowing for offline use. The startup emphasizes that Engram is not a 'push-button' tool for producing top-40-ready tracks, but rather a platform for pushing AI audio models to their limits. The company's Kickstarter listing highlights the unique approach of using AI to manipulate audio and hallucinate new sounds, offering musicians a novel way to explore creative possibilities. The device's focus on experimentation and its local AI model set it apart from other AI music tools like Suno. Thoughtful Things aims to provide an innovative tool for musicians looking to explore the boundaries of AI-generated audio. The campaign highlights the potential of Engram to transform broken AI hallucinations into musical compositions, offering a fresh perspective on the intersection of AI and music creation.