Empire of the Sun’s Luke Steele Says AI Can “Empower Artists That Know How to Use It”

In a recent interview with iHeartRadio Canada, Empire of the Sun singer Luke Steele admitted that “of course” he uses AI, calling it “just another tool” for musicians. However, Steele’s subsequent remarks indicate that he is embracing what he thinks is inevitable.

“It’s quite exciting, the humans versus AI,” Steele said, comparing AI-assisted studio tools to using “a really smart guitar pedal.”

Find Empire of the Sun Tickets

When pressed on his response to artists who are against using AI, Steele said it was “so powerful” and will “empower artists that know how to use it, and they’re going to become unstoppable.” He added, “The artists that are against it have got to be careful, because it’s going to come and swallow you like a boogie monster at night.”

“I think we gotta embrace it,” Steele concluded, before begging off a question about environmental concerns.

Overall, Steele’s approach to AI is more measured than, say, Boy George, who has wholly embraced using ChatGPT to write multiple albums. Last week, the British artist released a controversial pro-Israel “reggae” song, which he admitted to making with AI. The fallout from the track, which was more about its support of Israel and less about AI, led to George’s now-former manager pulling him from a role in a London production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

On the other hand, there’s Jack Antonoff, who recently wrote that creating music is a “holy process” and decried songwriters trying to “optimize” it with AI as “godless whores.”

Empire of the Sun are currently on their “Ask That God: Afterlife” North American tour through October.

View this post on Instagram