This debate has been running since the very beginning. Watching live bands for years, I’ve seen some that could use a little steering — and I’ve seen what happens when new tools arrive.

 

When the first synthesizer came in, there was resistance. The same happened with Photoshop. The first people using Photoshop were photographers — if they didn’t, they risked falling behind and going bankrupt. Twenty years later, no one talks about it — until AI arrived.

 

It’s the same story.

 

Did you know that photographers were among the first to embrace AI? Yet, they kept it under wraps. Here’s the irony: today, AI is seamlessly integrated into tools we use every day. Photoshop, for instance, now incorporates AI, as do countless other tools—grammar correction apps, accounting software, banking systems, parcel tracking, online surveillance platforms, and even the algorithms that sift through your email inbox. Consider this: the first mechanical calculator was invented in the 1700s. Fast-forward to 1973, and calculators were still a luxury, priced at $150—accessible only to the wealthy. They weren’t even allowed in schools and were seen by some as "tools of the devil." And now? You can’t pass most exams without one. Funny how times change, isn’t it?

 

The same big tech companies that warn you about “AI dangers” on the news are already running AI to scan your private messages, sell your data to advertisers, and shape what you see online. Psyops and narrative control aren’t a future threat — they’re happening now, powered by AI.

 

 

 

The outrage feels selective—aimed squarely at "creative AI" simply because it’s more visible—while the AI systems quietly driving much of modern life remain largely unnoticed. From IBM Watson to the foundational AI of the late 1970s, this technological evolution has been shaping our world for decades. During AI's golden age, spanning from 1956 to 1974, where was the public outcry? No one was protesting, shouting at their TVs, or questioning everything they saw or heard.

 

 

Look at SoundCloud: every app they offer — from upload to mastering to distribution — is powered by AI. The same with Ableton, Audacity, and all the major DAWs. Whether we realize it or not, music software is already using AI to get the best out of every track. This means, every track uploaded to ANY platform since AI, is trained by AI - if you agreed to or not. Let that Sink in.. 

 

When a band’s lead singer has a rough live voice, the question is: would you still spend $80 to hear them live — or just play the album? A good sound engineer would fix what needs fixing on stage before it left the speakers. 

 

By acknowledging this, we open up a new question: Can I sing?
With light correction — yes, you can. That opens up a whole new era for singers in general.

 

Of course, the gift of a naturally clear voice is still a great gift. The debate will go on for a while, but just as graphic AI art became widely accepted in eight months, so will AI-assisted singing.

 

If we guide this carefully and respectfully, Ethicly towards the legends we once had still have — and let them be part of this fairly — we can make it work. Tools like Voice-swap.com already recognize iconic artists like Bono, sting allicia, and allow proper licensing and royalty sharing.

 

If new artists play fair by using licensed AI tools that pay the artists before  for their work their are thier voice or instrument use - , then Gen Z can bring Millennial and Gen X artists into the new era — instead of leaving them behind while AI models are trained on their music without compensation.

 

Let’s not forget: the 303, the 808, distortion pedals, and vocoders were all once “pre-AI” voice enhancers programed by ARTIST designed and made by AIRTIST.

 

AI has now stepped into this role. Let’s embrace it with honor, respect, and a sense of responsibility.

 

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your perspective in the comments below.