Gene Simmons Shares His Concerns About Artificial Intelligence

During a recent interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Gene Simmons, the Kiss bassist and vocalist, expressed both excitement and concern about artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry

The rocker emphasized the need for legislation to govern AI’s impact. Simmons used a metaphor of landing on a new planet with abundant opportunities but without any rules, likening it to playing sports without rules. He believes that rules are necessary to ensure AI benefits all kinds of people, including men, women, and those who identify as transgender. Simmons continued:

“The problem with AI is not… AI is here, whether you like it or not. So let’s look at it smartly and let’s pass legislation. AI creates a song using my voice, or what sounds like my voice, with a new song, and it sounds just like me and it definitely sounds like that kind of a thing. So when you buy it, who owns the copyright and the publishing, if AI did that? So, is it me, because it sounds like me? You could swear it was me. So these are uncharted [territories].”

The Weeknd and Drake’s deep-faked vocals were used in the song “Heart On My Sleeve,” which Universal Music had “Heart On My Sleeve” removed from streaming services in April. The company claimed in a statement that “the training of generative AI using our artists’ music” was “a violation of copyright law.”

Simmons is not the only musician in the hard rock and heavy metal genre to express concerns or excitement about AI. Other musicians, like Voivod drummer Michel “Away” Langevin and Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows, have discussed the potential benefits and challenges of AI in their respective interviews.

Overall, musicians have differing perspectives on AI in the music industry, with some emphasizing the need for regulation and others embracing AI’s potential as a creative tool.

Check out Simmons’ interview in the video below.