Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan has shared that he is fine with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) when it comes to artwork.
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The bassist discussed the controversial topic of AI being used in creative fields during a new interview with Classic Rock Magazine, and explained that he isn’t as opposed to the concept as some artists.
During the conversation, the musician was asked if he thinks that the rapid improvements being made to the technologies could pose a threat to the future of rock music, to which he responded that he isn’t too concerned about it detracting from actual artists.
“As far as music goes, for a rock band like Guns N’ Roses, it doesn’t apply. I don’t think it could,” he said. “There’s nothing better than sitting down and writing a song on an acoustic guitar. There’ll never be anything better than that.”
He continued, explaining how he isn’t as hostile towards the technology because he has seen fans use it to create GNR-inspired artwork that they have then sent over to him.
“I see the ‘s Al art on Instagram on Guns N’ Roses, and some of the stuff’s great, and my skin always looks amazing in it. I’m like: ‘I like this Al, my hair! That coat! I wish I had that coat!’
“But in seriousness, I don’t know enough about it… As far as it applies to music, I don’t see it at all.”
Duff McKagan, founding member of Guns N’ Roses, performs onstage. CREDIT: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
The comments echo a similar statement McKagan shared with NME last year, when he stated that he had no plans to let the AI “affect my creativity”.
“You’re gonna always have guys like me who [have] just got their middle finger up. They’re gonna just keep creating and not even pay attention to it, really,” he said as part of a livestream, promoting his single ‘Lighthouse’.
“I don’t pay attention to it. I’m not worried about it. It’s not gonna affect my creativity.”
He joins the growing number of artists who have spoken out against the use of AI, including Brian May, Ed Sheeran and John Lydon.
One of the most prolific instances of an artist speaking out, however, came from Bad Seeds frontman Nick Cave, who described the concept as “a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human”. He later added that he wanted AI platforms like ChatGPT to “fuck off and leave songwriting alone”.
Similarly, Guns N’ Roses bandmate Slash also weighed in on the debate, and said that the use of AI in music “does not really thrill me”.
While artists such as Grimes have embraced the idea of AI being used to help aid songwriting, countless names have taken the alternate stance. For instance, over 200 artists including Billie Eilish, Robert Smith, Stevie Wonder and Nicki Minaj recently signed an open letter put together by the Artists Rights Alliance, warning against the “predatory” use of AI in music.
Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses performs in 2023 (Photo by Shlomi Pinto/Redferns)
Elsewhere, MPs suggested that musicians and celebrities should be protected against AI deepfakes by law, and Sony Music, UMG and Warner Records have all sued two AI brands for copyright violations. News of the latter also came shortly after Sony Music slammed Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and other tech firms over claims of unauthorised AI songs.
It has sparked backlash from the film industry too, as actors have been increasingly involved – whether willingly or unwillingly – with AI in recent times.
Most recently, Scarlett Johansson opened up about her disagreement with artificial intelligence company OpenAI after they allegedly used a voice similar to hers for a new ChatGPT system.
Back in May, the actor claimed that when she heard the system’s new voice option, named ‘Sky’, she and her friends and family noticed a similarity between their voices. As a result, she complained to OpenAI, and the voice option was removed.
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