"Flexibility Prevails over Stubbornness": The Evolution of Nick Cave's Perspective on Artificial Intelligence, guided by an AI-powered Elvis
In a surprising turn of events, renowned musician Nick Cave has expressed a change of heart towards the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in music and art. This shift in perspective was prompted by a personal, artistic experience with AI, specifically a video tribute to his song "Tupelo" created by filmmaker Andrew Dominik.
The video, released to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the song, uses AI technology to bring still photos of Elvis Presley to life. Initially skeptical of AI-generated music and art, Cave was urged by Dominik to "suspend his prejudices" and watch the video. The result was awe-inspiring, as Cave described the AI-animated Elvis as "uncanny" and expressed astonishment at how the work captured the song’s essence and symbolism.
Cave was openly impressed with the video, calling it "a soulful, moving, and entirely original retelling of 'Tupelo,' rich in mythos and a touching tribute to the great Elvis Presley" on his Red Hand Files newsletter. He further described the crucifixion-resurrection images at the end of the video as both shocking and deeply affecting.
Andrew Dominik, the creator of the video, views AI as a tool, like any other, in the creation of art. This perspective seems to have influenced Cave, leading him to reconsider his previous views and acknowledge AI's potential as an artistic device rather than merely a commodity or threat to creativity.
Cave's change of opinion aligns with that of economist John Maynard Keynes, who famously said: "When the facts change, I change my mind - what do you do, sir?" This shift in Cave's stance marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate about the role of AI in the creative industries.
It's worth noting that, in the same year, Cave had expressed his view that artists who used AI were participating in the erosion of the world's soul and the spirit of humanity. However, after collaborating with Dominik, he did not express any further concerns about the use of AI in music or art.
In summary, Nick Cave's collaboration with Andrew Dominik has led to a softening of his stance on AI in creative fields. The Tupelo video, with its AI-animated archival footage of Elvis Presley, has demonstrated the potential of AI to augment and visually interpret music meaningfully, leading to a more nuanced and open-minded perspective towards AI in creative fields.
Nick Cave, who initially hesitated about AI's role in music and art, has since been impressed by the AI-animated Elvis Presley video created by Andrew Dominik, changing his perspective. This video, a tribute to Cave's song "Tupelo," showcases the potential of artificial-intelligence technology as an artistic device in the entertainment industry.
