Boy George: AI Won't Replace Artists Who Push Themselves
Singer Boy George has written five albums using artificial intelligence and says musicians shouldn't fear the technology. He framed AI as a tool that sharpens creativity rather than eliminates jobs.
"If you get replaced by a robot, you weren't trying hard enough," George said on the "Fearne Cotton's Happy Place" podcast early this month.
AI as a Writing Partner
The 64-year-old uses ChatGPT in his songwriting process, treating the tool like a collaborator he can push back against. He said he rejects lines that don't match his voice and works with the tool until the lyrics feel authentic.
"I have fantastic conversations with ChatGPT and I'll say, 'Oh that's crap, that's not what I would say,'" George said. "You can train it."
He pointed to his track "I Am Iran" as an example. George used AI to help write in Persian-a language he doesn't speak-while maintaining his British writing style. The technology handled the linguistic heavy lifting while he maintained artistic control.
Control Over Output
George acknowledged job losses remain a real concern but said the artist still decides what makes the final cut. AI shapes possibilities; the human brings judgment and intent.
Not all musicians share his optimism. Singer SZA recently told i-D magazine she feels "at war because of AI." Spotify removed more than 75 million spam tracks in September as it tightened rules around AI-generated music.
For writers in any field, the question remains the same: how much control do you maintain over what the tool produces?
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