Gunna and will.i.am are weighing in on the ongoing debate surrounding artificial intelligence in music and entertainment. In a conversation for UPROXX, the two stars discussed being open to working with A.I. and will.i.am shared that he believes everyone should get on board with what he sees as the future.
“I f—k with it, but I’m not hands-on with it. I’m not against it,” Gunna said. “I’m gonna for sure tap in to it, but I’m taking my time.”
“This s–t is next level. You gotta tap in deep, real soon,” will.i.am told Gunna. “‘Cause like 2030? Bro. This next five years is gonna be so transformational. We compete with humans right now. In 2030, it’s gonna be full-on Al artists that produce it, write it, and star in the videos.”
“I gotta sign me an Al artist, fast. Get with ’em, you can’t beat ’em,” Gunna added.
Use of A.I. has drawn criticism from fans and commentators. Timbaland has notably come under fire for his enthusiastic embrace of the tech; while Erykah Badu and The Alchemist were blasted by some fans for using A.I. to create artwork for their recent single, “Next to You.” It led to Alchemist responding to critics on X (formerly Twitter.)
“A cell phone is a.i. think about that,” he posted. “Nah really think about it. Angry commentary about ai, WHILE ON A CELL PHONE. how dumb this conversation is LOL. This is fun.”
After Timbaland announced he was signing an A.I.-generated artist named “Tata,” Young Guru voiced his criticism of the idea.
“I’m going to say it again,” Guru wrote. “I swear I love you bro but this ain’t it. Do you not realize what is going on in the world.
“Your voice is powerful and way too important to do anything like this,” he continued. “I have students who worship you. They are going to say ‘if Tim can do it, then it is ok for me to do it.’ These are the times, right here, that history is defined .. Human expression can never be reduced to this!!! This is way bigger than music!!! I say this all in love.”
Young Guru would later clarify his position on A.I.
“I am not ‘against’ A.I.,” he posted on IG. “There is no stopping A.I. That is clear. I am trying to get us to think clearly about the implications of what A.I. will be to our lives. And more importantly to our future. Realize that every ‘engagement’ on these devices is training A.I.”
What are your thoughts? Do you think A.I. artists are the future of the music industry?