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Grimes says AI in music ‘will probably shape all minds for the rest of time’

The singer and producer has been at the forefront of AI-generated music in recent years.

By Will Richards

Grimes photographed performing a DJ set on the Tous stage for Primavera Sound 2022
Grimes performs a DJ set on the Tous stage for Primavera Sound 2022 (Picture: Christian Bertrand)

Grimes has shared more thoughts on AI in music, saying she believes it “will probably shape all minds moving forwards for the rest of time”.

The singer and producer has been at the forefront of AI’s increasing prominence in music creation, giving fans permission to use her voice on AI generated songs and having formed her own AI girl group called NPC.

Speaking as part of Ari Wallach’s new series A Brief History Of The Future, Claire Boucher discussed what she believes the future will look like for AI in music.

“I think because we’re all alive, we all take it for granted that I can think and I have agency and I can feel,” she said. “I think the universe is empty and quiet and it wants to be woken up and filled with beautiful things.”

Of what AI can offer young and amateur musicians, she added: “When I started making music, there was sort of this revolution happening in music production, more people were being able to make music at home on their computers and I think there was a massive democratisation of who was allowed to make music that, like, I took huge advantage of. That was fully the byproduct of technology.”

She went on: “You know, when I see some of the new stuff coming with AI, all this stuff that is about to explode, when everyone has the same tools that can make professional quality stuff, then you get to see the actual talent really rise to the top,” she explained.

“If there’s ever a moment to have a feeling of purpose, I think it would be now, because what we do in the things we create over the next few decades will probably shape all minds going forward for the rest of time.”

Last year, Grimes made headlines when she allowed fans to use an AI-generated version of her voice on new tracks, offering to split royalties with the creators.

“I’ll split 50 [percent] royalties on any successful AI generated song that uses my voice,” she tweeted. “Same deal as I would with any artist i collab with. Feel free to use my voice without penalty. I have no label and no legal bindings.”