Grimes isn’t the only musician with an AI-powered “clone.” In a written statement ahead of her testimony at today’s Senate hearing on digital replicas and AI concerns viewed by Rolling Stone, FKA Twigs said she’s developing a deepfake version of herself to interact with fans. “In the past year, I have developed my own deepfake version of myself that is not only trained in my personality but also can use my exact tone of voice to speak many languages,” she wrote. “I will be engaging my AI twigs later this year to extend my reach and handle my online social media interactions, whilst I continue to focus on my art from the comfort and solace of my studio. These and similar emerging technologies are highly valuable tools both artistically and commercially when under the control of the artist.”
“Our careers and livelihoods are in jeopardy, and so potentially are the wider image-related rights of others in society,” twigs’ statement continues. “You have the power to change this and safeguard the future. That the very essence of our being at its most human level can be violated by the unscrupulous use of AI to create a digital facsimile that purports to be us, and our work, is inherently wrong. It is therefore vital that as an industry and as legislators we work together to ensure we do all we can to protect our creative and intellectual rights as well as the very basis of who we are.”
Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl also submitted testimony urging Congress to legislate AI. “Across the industry, legends from Roberta Flack to the Beatles have embraced AI as a tool to enhance their creativity,” he wrote. “At the same time, generative AI is appropriating artists’ identities and producing deep fakes that depict people doing, saying, or singing things that never happened. Congress should pass legislation this year before the genie is out of the bottle while we still have a chance to get this right.”
The hearing will air on C-SPAN today (4/30) at 2:30 PM ET. It’ll discuss the NO FAKES Act — “Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act” — which would allow artists to seek legal action against the unauthorized use of their likeness in AI.