Musicians can now transform artificial intelligence errors into experimental sounds using a new music device called Engram. Created by the startup Thoughtful Things, Engram is a sampler and groovebox—a digital tool used to record, play back, and alter audio clips. Instead of generating complete songs automatically, this hardware device is designed to mangle audio and produce unusual, glitchy sounds.
Engram works without an internet connection, running a small, custom-built AI model directly inside the machine. The company states that it trained its model using only open audio datasets licensed for commercial use, avoiding copyrighted or stolen music. Users can speak requests into the device, such as asking for a "piano," and Engram outputs a distorted, electronic variation of that instrument.
The instrument is designed to explore "AI hallucinations," which are unexpected errors made by artificial intelligence models. Thoughtful Things also plans to open up Engram's firmware so users can modify the software or load custom models. The company launched a limited run of the instrument on Kickstarter starting at $675, with expected retail prices between $850 and $900.