Nile Rodgers has defended his use of AI to create the music video for his new version of The Christmas Song.
The Chic legend divided fans when he shared that he was using AI capture for the film.
He announced on Instagram: “#working on a #great #art project that’s next #level. This is the start of the process. This AI capture was very thorough and I’m so excited about the finished project.
“When I saw the Eagles at The Sphere in Vegas I envisioned stories with incredible environments and music. It’s future time! (sic)”
One follower commented: “There’s better way to preserve your legacy. (sic)”
Nile responded: “Wait to you see it before you make judgement. You’re imagining the worst instead of imagining the best.” However, they replied: “I don’t have to imagine my friend, look what AI has done to art in general yet alone music. Promoting it in such a big way is not the way to go.”
Although backlash continued to grow as he promoted the project, the musician refused to back down, maintaining that AI was merely a tool and that the team had still “painstakingly created every second you’ll see on the screen.”
He wrote: “We created everything. Mood boards, story boards and did it the same way we’d do a film. The AI did what we told it to do and we painstakingly created every second you’ll see on the screen… If this were a traditional film it would’ve cost about $100,000.”
Nile told another user “it’s somewhat hypocritical to say you’re anti AI and you’re using it all the time because it makes your life convenient.
“I used to work with Microsoft and Apple. I’m very aware of the things they do when they have new tech that consumers like yourself adopt its usage. Love to you. I respect all opinions.”
The 74-year-old producer – who has worked with David Bowie, Madonna and Duran Duran – has spoken in the past about seeing the “positive side” to the technology.
He previously told Euronews: “So, I think using AI-generated vocals to copy another person’s sound is horrible, but using AI to artistically express yourself and make better music, I think, is fantastic. The way I want to look at AI is from the positive side. I want to look at it as just another color on your palette.”
He noted that some people viewed technologies such as drum machines, synthesizers and Auto-Tune with scepticism when they first emerged, but argued that AI is simply the latest creative tool available to artists.
Nile added: “I think that creativity comes from the artist. Now, if you have a tool to help you become more creative, there’s nothing wrong with that.”