Hozier says he would consider striking over AI’s threat to music

nme.com:

Hozier has shared that he would consider striking over the threat that artificial intelligence (AI) poses to the music industry.In a preview of tonight’s episode of Newsnight (August 17), Hozier – real name Andrew Hozier-Byrne – explained to presenter Victoria Derbyshire: “Whether [AI is] art or not, I think, is nearly a philosophical debate.“It can’t create something based on a human experience.

So I don’t know if it meets the definition of art.”He continued: “Actors at the moment… there’s huge strikes on at the moment.

Yeah, a huge part of that is that [AI] can be used to create a product without human labour.”Asked if he could imagine going on strike over the threat AI poses to the music industry, Hozier responded: “Can I imagine?

Yeah. Joining in solidarity if there was action on that? Absolutely.”You can see the clip below, and watch the full episode of Newsnight at 10:30pm BST on BBC Two.‘Can you imagine going on strike about AI?’ @vicderbyshire asks Irish singer-songwriter Hozier‘If there was action on that, absolutely’Tonight @ 10:30pm Hozier speaks to Newsnight ahead of the launch of his new album Unreal Unearthhttps://t.co/P0zxS1DNGF pic.twitter.com/Ej5XLgn0Ku— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) August 17, 2023Hozier shared that he would be willing to join similar action to the US actors and writers’ strikes, who are fighting for better contracts and protection against the use of AI in the industry.The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) have gone on strike together for the first time since 1960.The Hollywood actors union joined the WGA in taking strike action on July 13, after negotiations broke down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), who represent.