Dr. Dre has publicly defended the integration of artificial intelligence into music.
In a joint sit-down with record executive Jimmy Iovine for The New York Times published this past Sunday, the rapper-entrepreneur shared his perspective on the emerging, controversial technology.
“I don’t view it as a threat. I think the only people who perceive it as such are those who struggle to create,” he began.
Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, argued that AI is comparable to other audio technologies employed in studio production.
“I spoke with a few folks a couple of days ago. They were against AI, and I told them, ‘Alright, you sound like someone who would have opposed the drum machine when it first appeared.’ Or synthesizers, for instance,” the 61-year-old noted. “It’s a fresh tool for creativity. Some people fear learning new things. I’m embracing it. I can’t wait to see what unfolds with this.”
In another part of the discussion, Dre confirmed that he has used AI in the process of making music and underscored that other artists are doing the same.
“Yes, I’m using it. Again, as a means to understand what it could add to what I just produced,” he stated, while Jimmy added: “So is Timbaland — another brilliant producer. By the way, there are a lot of AI producers hiding in the shadows.”
AI remains a polarizing subject within the music world, with Madonna recently labeling the technology the “opposite of making art” during a conversation with Vogue Italia.
Nevertheless, Mick Jagger offered a contrasting view in an interview with Billboard in July, arguing that experimenting with AI in music is acceptable as long as the result remains true to its originality.
