“Weird Al” Yankovic has revealed he turned down “a nice pile of money” to appear in a commercial for business software after he found out it was connected to AI. In a recent interview with syracuse.com, Yankovic said he initially accepted the offer before learning the full details of the ad. “I’m not going to mention any names, but they told me it was for a business,” he explained. “It was business software that would increase productivity… I said, ‘Oh well, yeah, sure, I could do that.’”
Yankovic continued, “And then a week before we’re supposed to shoot it, I find out, oh, this is, it’s AI. And I thought, ‘Oh no, I can’t be the poster boy for AI, forget it.’ So I felt bad about kind of pulling out at the last minute. But yeah, I’m not, I’m not down with that.”
Speaking Out Against AI
The musician added that he is “not a fan of AI” being used to create parody songs. Yankovic is just the latest artist to speak out against the technology. Just last month, Jack Antonoff called people who try to “optimize” the process of making music with AI “godless whores.” Before that, Billy Corgan vowed never to use AI, saying it would be a “deal with the devil,” and Grimes warned that AI is the “most dangerous thing that’s ever going to happen.”
Current Tour
Yankovic is currently on the latest iteration of his “Bigger & Weirder Tour,” which runs through mid-October. Tickets can be purchased here. This decision to turn down the commercial is a testament to Yankovic‘s dedication to his art and his values. As a pioneer in the music industry, Yankovic continues to inspire and entertain fans around the world with his unique brand of humor and creativity.
In conclusion, Yankovic‘s decision to turn down the AI commercial is a bold statement against the use of AI in the music industry. With Jack Antonoff, Billy Corgan, and Grimes also speaking out against AI, it’s clear that this is a topic that will continue to be debated in the entertainment industry. As Yankovic continues on his “Bigger & Weirder Tour,” fans can expect the same level of creativity and originality that has made him a beloved figure in the music world.
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