Jack Antonoff Condemns AI-Generated Music as “Godless Whores”

On Wednesday, 13-time Grammy winner Jack Antonoff posted a journal entry on Instagram in which he denounced the use of artificial intelligence to create music and visual art, labeling the practitioners “godless whores.” He framed the creation of music as an “ancient ritual” that should not be optimized or expedited through technology.

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Jack Antonoff is generally considered one of the most prolific pop producers of the 2000s. He has collaborated with artists such as Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, FKA twigs, Sia, Clairo, St. Vincent and Troy Sivan. He is also the frontman and founder of the rock group Bleachers. His career includes 13 Grammy awards.

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In the Instagram entry, Antonoff argued that the creative process—writing, recording, and performing—constitutes a ritual that derives its value from its inherent unpredictability and effort. He asserted that attempts to “optimize” this process through AI undermine the fundamental purpose of artistic creation. Antonoff emphasized that neither he nor his peers seek to make music “quicker or easier,” and he expressed confidence that future generations will continue to engage in the traditional practice of songwriting and performance. He warned that those who pursue AI-generated art will ultimately reveal themselves as “bad actors” and that the industry’s “struggling great” will be further strained. He also noted that without the creative process, music would amount to “nothingness,” and that he, his band, and his peers have never sought to make their work faster or easier.

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• “godless whores.” — Jack Antonoff, Instagram journal entry

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• “What we do has become and acient ritual,” — Jack Antonoff, Instagram journal entry

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• “You don’t have to write music, you don’t have to record it and you don’t have to bring out the band and play it. And yet for us, the idea of optimizing what we do is a complete miss of the entire point of what compels us in the first place. We (myself, the band and everyone I know, frankly) have never been looking for this work to become quicker or easier. We were never frustrated by the randomness and magic it takes. We do it for that exact reason – and without the process itself ::: nothingness.” — Jack Antonoff, Instagram journal entry

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• “We’re genuinely happy to see you go.” — Jack Antonoff, Instagram journal entry

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• “We’re genuinely happy to see you go. Generations coming will be engaging in the ancient ritual of writing, recording and performing as it comes to us from God. So as we embark on this strange detour where the bad actors will willingly reveal themselves through slop, and the struggling great will be further spread thin to make an honest living doing what they were put on Earth to do, we (myself, the band and frankly everyone I know) remain more dedicated than ever to reveal what comes from within. Writing music, recording and performing it — that’s it. Nothing more embarrassing than considering there is a way to optimize that holy process.” — Jack Antonoff, Instagram journal entry

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Antonoff’s statements articulate a view that AI-assisted creation is antithetical to artistic authenticity. As a prominent figure in pop production, his stance may be observed by industry participants who consider the role of emerging technologies in music creation.

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The source material provides only Antonoff’s perspective; it does not include reactions from AI developers, other musicians, or industry organizations. Consequently, the article lacks counter-arguments or data on the prevalence of AI-generated music, leaving a gap in understanding the full scope of the debate.

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