Ice Cube is the latest Hip Hop artist to speak out against artificial intelligence and its implications regarding creativity.
During an interview with Piers Morgan that aired on Monday (July 17), the former NWA rapper was asked about AI and how it is now being used to replicate styles and personalities without any human touch. Cube, without skipping a beat, expressed that he is entirely against the concept.
“I think it’s terrible,” Ice Cube said. “I think it’s gon’ make people lazier, less creative.”
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He further illustrated his point by drawing a parallel with on-screen acting, adding: “Could you imagine if I decided not to do a sequel and the movie company said, ‘We have the rights to your likeness. We gon’ put you in this sequel whether you want to be or not ’cause we have the right to.’
“So now they use AI to put Ice Cube in a movie I don’t want to be in, saying things I don’t wanna say and doin’ thing I wouldn’t do, so to me, that’s terrible … or taking an artist that’s passed away and having him do a new song with lyrics that they may not agree with — it’s a slippery slope that will hurt us more than it will help us.”
Watch Cube share his thoughts on AI below:
On the flipside, Timbaland recently unveiled his plans to venture further into artificial intelligence despite being criticized for using AI-generated Biggie vocals. He explained to Forbes magazine in a recent interview that he plans to “commercialize artificial intelligence software” with the goal of “revolutionizing how songs are made.”
“It’s going to really be a new way of creating and a new way of generating money with less costs,” he said. “I’m already here. This is what I’m doing. I’m going to lead the way.”
According to Forbes, the software was developed by Light Energy Labs, a Miami-based company the producer co-founded last year with software programmer and producer Zayd “Creatrgod” Portillo.
It is Timbaland’s belief that AI voice filters will “open up an unprecedented world of creativity in music.” As a result, he hopes his startup and AI voice filter technology will “usher in the new era.”
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Besides benefiting emerging artists, the software could also benefit established ones, he said. In addition, it may mean that a producer can use the voice of “a music legend who is no longer with us.”
However, he pointed out that there are a host of “legal issues centering on copyright and revenue-sharing” that need to be resolved before the music can be released.
