By Gloria Ogbonna
Grammy-winning producer and singer Jack Antonoff is once again speaking out against the growing use of artificial intelligence in music and the arts — and this time, he did not hold back.
In a fiery Instagram post shared Wednesday, the Bleachers frontman offered what he described as his “many thoughts” as his band prepares to release their upcoming album, Everyone for Ten Minutes. While reflecting on creativity and the meaning behind his work, Antonoff sharply criticized artists and creators who rely on AI to produce music, branding them “Godless whores” and accusing them of abandoning what he considers an ancient and sacred ritual.
Antonoff, who leads the band Bleachers, argued that music-making is far more than just producing a final track. For him, the true essence of art lies in the human process — writing, recording, rehearsing, and performing.
“What we do has become an ancient ritual,” Antonoff wrote, emphasizing that while technology may make it possible to bypass traditional steps, that convenience strips away the soul of the craft. “You don’t have to write music anymore, you don’t have to record it and you don’t have to bring the band out and play it,” he said, suggesting that AI tools threaten to disconnect artists from the very experience that defines their work.
The 42-year-old musician insisted that neither he nor his collaborators have ever sought to make their work “quicker or easier.” Instead, he said, the unpredictability — the randomness and magic — is exactly what draws them to creating music in the first place. “We were never frustrated by the randomness and magic it takes,” he added. “We do it for that exact reason — and without the process itself — nothingness.”
Taking a direct swipe at those enthusiastic about AI-driven creativity, Antonoff wrote, “So to everyone who is gassed up about the new ways you can fake making art, by all means, drive right off that cliff. We’re genuinely happy to see you go.” He later punctuated his frustration bluntly with the phrase: “Godless whores.”
Beyond the shock value of his words, Antonoff’s broader message centered on authenticity. He predicted that future generations will continue to embrace what he described as the “ancient ritual” of writing, recording, and performing music — practices he believes come “from God.” In contrast, he suggested that those who rely on AI shortcuts will ultimately reveal themselves through what he called creative “slop,” while genuine artists may struggle even more to earn a living in an increasingly tech-driven marketplace.
Antonoff has long been a vocal critic of artificial intelligence in the arts. In a 2023 interview with Music Business Worldwide, he downplayed the idea that AI would replace meaningful human artistry but warned of its economic consequences. “I don’t give a shit about what it’ll do to the art, because I don’t think it’ll do anything,” he said at the time. “To be in the presence of something made by a human is a huge part of the source. But I think it’ll mess up the commerce for a lot of struggling artists.”
Known for his extensive collaborations with global stars such as Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey, Antonoff has built a career on hands-on production and deeply personal songwriting. His critique of AI reflects a broader debate within the music industry, where artists and executives continue to wrestle with how emerging technologies will reshape creativity and commerce.
While some see AI as a powerful new tool for innovation, Antonoff’s stance is clear: music, at its core, is a human ritual — and attempting to “optimize” that sacred process risks stripping away the very magic that makes art meaningful.
Source Breitbart
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