Joe Bonamassa changes his mind on AI after hearing it in 200 records

Joe Bonamassa has softened his stance on AI in music after admitting the technology is already turning up in records he listens to.

The blues guitarist previously warned about some of AI's dangers, but now argues musicians cannot simply pretend tools such as Suno do not exist. After listening through around 200 blues records, Bonamassa says he could already hear AI being used in some of them.

AI could give new musicians a chance

Bonamassa is particularly relaxed about emerging artists using AI to help with parts of the creative process.

He argued that somebody using Suno to help write a lyric is not committing a serious offence, especially when unknown musicians are fighting for attention in an industry dominated by streaming and social media.

For Bonamassa, AI could simply become another tool giving new artists “a leg up” while they try to build an audience. What he rejects is pretending the technology is not already being used.

His position becomes more complicated when entirely artificial artists enter the charts. Bonamassa pointed to AI blues act Eddie Dalton, which has attracted hundreds of thousands of monthly Spotify listeners. He accepts that audiences have every right to listen to AI music if they enjoy it, but questions whether synthetic acts should compete in the same categories as living musicians.

That distinction makes his changing position more interesting than simply being pro or anti-AI. Bonamassa appears increasingly comfortable with musicians using the technology, while remaining uneasy about artificial performers competing directly against them.

As AI music becomes harder to spot, that middle ground may become considerably more common.

Image credit: Future/Joby Sessions