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Kelly Clarkson Sparks Outrage After Sharing Her ‘Controversial’ Take On AI
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Kelly Clarkson left many of her fans divided this week after revealing her “love” of artificial intelligence. The “American Idol” champion and former talk show host shared her enthusiasm for AI on the “Las Culturistas” podcast Wednesday, acknowledging her take was likely to ruffle feathers. “Controversial, I don’t care,” Clarkson told hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. “Here’s the thing: I love AI. There are very amazing things with AI that I am obsessed with.” “I have fun with it, just like everybody else does,” she continued, after noting that she’s happy to use AI “artistically.” When it comes to other artists and musicians embracing the technology, however, she’s eager for more established ground rules. “When you see AI artists competing on a chart with humans, I have an issue,” she said. “I think there should be a separate chart. I think it’s welcome. I think it’s welcome to the table. I think it’s really cool and creative what we’re going to create with AI and musically and people that maybe can’t do certain things will be able to do it now.” Watch Kelly Clarkson’s “Las Culturistas” appearance below. Her comments on AI can found around the 1:22:37 mark. She went on to note: “It’s basically like having [the] Olympics and then you’re having robots compete with humans. Well, who’s gonna throw further? Oh, I wonder. I’m down with it, and I think it’s a very interesting thing, and what we’re gonna do with it is going to be fun. But I do not think they should be competing.” Moments later, Rogers and Yang brought up AI-generated “actor” Tilly Norwood, who has been interviewed by media outlets around the world and made appearances on CNN and other television networks, much to the chagrin of actors’ unions. “We can’t lose human. We can’t lose what that is,” Clarkson noted. “But there can be an appetite for both, is what I’m saying.” As of Thursday afternoon, Clarkson’s comments had drawn a plethora of responses ― many of them negative ― online. “I hate the way very famous musicians talk about this stuff as if they have to fight for attention the same way smaller, independent, or even mildly successful artists do,” one person wrote on X. “Like if this shit was around before she won American Idol she’d be just as against it as we are. Out of touch.” Added another: “Notice how she has no issues with AI outside of how it would affect her?” On Reddit, many users shared similar sentiments. “I suppose it wasn’t too surprising and is kind of on-brand for her,” one person wrote. “But it is a great, dark reminder that these people we all glorify for their talent and creativity are still sucked in to AI.” A three-time Grammy winner, Clarkson concluded her eponymous daytime talk show in August after a seven-season run on NBC. Last month, she returned to “The Voice” as a coach following a three-year absence, and has hinted at plans to release new music after unveiling her latest single, “I’d Be Lyin,’” in July. Clarkson is, of course, far from the first celebrity to stoke controversy with a somewhat eyebrow-raising take on AI. In April, Reese Witherspoon backpedaled after sharing a since-deleted Instagram post explaining why she’d chosen to join the “AI revolution.” In a follow-up post on her Instagram story, the actor stressed that she doesn’t believe computers should replace humanity, adding that she was still “planning on learning as much as possible so that I’m educated about this technological revolution.” “If you want to learn with me, great, let’s do this! If you don’t, that’s okay too,” she wrote. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
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