Until very recently, artificial intelligence in music was primarily discussed as a threat: it would displace musicians, devalue creativity, and turn art into a mass-produced commodity.
Today, a different idea is emerging—one that comes not from critics, but from musicians themselves. Perhaps AI is not a competitor, but rather a new tool for artistic creation.
Over the past few years, this idea has been expressed independently by artists working across vastly different musical genres. Collectively, their perspectives reveal a fascinating trend: a shift in the very nature of the conversation surrounding technology and music.
The First Note
Grimes: AI — A Tool for Creativity
Canadian singer Grimes (Claire Boucher) was among the first to openly declare that artificial intelligence could become a natural part of the musical process.
Her approach goes beyond mere utilization: in 2021, she launched the project NPC—a digital girl group generated by AI and curated by herself. For her, technology doesn't replace the musician; instead, it expands the creative space, allowing for experimentation with new forms and the pursuit of unusual artistic solutions that would be unattainable without AI.
The Second Note
Holly Herndon: AI as a Co-Creative Character
Holly Herndon is an American composer and researcher, holding a PhD in computer music from Stanford University. For several years, she has been working at the intersection of music and artificial intelligence, re-evaluating what it means to be a creator.
In her projects, AI does not act as an independent author in the traditional sense. Instead, it transforms into a new musical instrument— akin to a synthesizer or an electric guitar—controlled by a human. On her album Proto (2019), Herndon developed the neural network Spawn, trained on her own voice, resulting in a work where human and machine voices intertwine into a single entity. The composer remains the primary source of the music; technology merely expands the palette of expressive tools.
The Third Note
Luke Steele: "It's Just a Very Smart Effects Pedal"
In August 2026, Luke Steele, frontman of the Australian electro-pop duo Empire Of The Sun, discussed his work with AI in an interview at the Osheaga festival in Montreal. His response was straightforward: artificial intelligence is "just another tool."
Steele likened AI to a "very smart effects pedal" that aids in discovering unexpected creative ideas, thereby broadening the scope of what a musician can explore. But what's particularly significant is his mention of developing his own tool, Song Mountain—a system that merges sacred texts, biblical quotes, and ancient American Indian sayings with contemporary language, generating new verbal combinations to uncover unexpected imagery and creative directions. For him, artificial intelligence is not a substitute for authorship, but rather a means to expand its capabilities and leave the author's voice untouched.
What Do These Three Stories Reveal?
Different artists. Different genres. Different creative approaches. Yet, when viewed more broadly, a single pattern emerges.
None of them suggest that artificial intelligence can replace humans. On the contrary, all three emphasize that it can expand human creative capabilities. This marks a significant shift in the dialogue.
Just recently, the primary question in the music industry centered on protection: "Can artificial intelligence be used? Is it dangerous?"
Today, the question is shifting: "How can it be used to preserve the authorial voice and human uniqueness? How can a musician master it while still remaining true to themselves?"
Certainly, significant questions regarding copyright, the transparency of model training, and the ethical boundaries of AI use remain unanswered. Streaming platforms are disputing with rights holders, artists are demanding fairness, and society has yet to agree on regulation. However, the very nature of the conversation is changing. The industry is gradually moving from confrontation to a more complex dialogue: how co-creation with machines can enrich, rather than diminish, human creativity.
Historical Context
The history of music has repeatedly evolved with the advent of new instruments. Each, in its time, appeared either revolutionary or threatening—often both simultaneously.
The piano expanded the capabilities of keyboard instruments but demanded new learning.
The electric guitar drew condemnation from blues purists but gave birth to rock music.
The synthesizer seemed like a machine designed to replace orchestras but became the creative tool for Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, and thousands of others.
Computers and digital sound were initially seen as a threat to "true art" but are now simply the norm.
Now, artificial intelligence joins their ranks. However, perhaps the most significant change isn't occurring in technology—it's happening within the musician's mindset.
Musicians are increasingly beginning to view AI not as a rival competing for audience attention, but as another means to unleash their imagination.
What Does This Trend Add to the Planet's Sound?
A new note—conscious co-creation!
The musical world appears to be moving from the fundamental question of competition—"human or artificial intelligence?"—to one of possibility—"what new creations can humans achieve with this tool?"
It is precisely here, at the intersection of these three independent stories, that one of the most intriguing trends in contemporary music begins to emerge. This is not because AI has become a magical solution, but rather because musicians are increasingly viewing it as a tool controlled by humans, and not the other way around.
Any tool reveals not only its own potential but also the skill level of the person wielding it. Perhaps artificial intelligence will be an exception only if humans cease to be the authors of their own choices.
