FKA Twigs Reveals Her AI Twin During AI Regulation Discussions
Artificial Intelligence
2-minute read
On April 30, 2024, singer, songwriter, and dancer FKA Twigs testified in a US Senate hearing in favor of regulating AI-generated content and protecting the intellectual property rights of artists. However, she advocated for sensible regulation, not a complete ban, and, surprisingly, she even revealed that she has trained a digital doppelganger using artificial intelligence technology. Let's examine her statement and stance to get another perspective amid the AI-content-generation debate.
Known for her avant-garde style and exploration of love's fragility and complexity through her music and performance, FKA Twigs' testimony on the potential danger of AI to art carried weight. Her testimony was compelling, pointing out that art is a reflection of the multifaceted accumulation of human life, as well as a mirror of one's identity. She further stated that while AI cannot replicate the depth of her life's journey, those who own AI could copy her style and falsely claim it as their own, underscoring the need for legislative solutions to prevent such scenarios.
"My art is the canvas on which I paint my identity and the sustaining foundation of my livelihood," said FKA Twigs, emphasizing the trinity of an artist's life experiences, creativity, and source of income. Surprisingly, she also revealed that she has created a deepfake version of herself, which captures her personality and speaking tone and supports multiple languages. "AI Twigs" will soon manage her online interactions, enabling her to focus on artistic work and avoid burnout from excessive exposure to social media.
Why the 'division of labor'? Is AI Twigs necessary to allow the real Twigs to focus on songwriting and recording? The answer might indeed be yes.
As platforms like TikTok and Instagram become key promotional channels for musicians and entertainers, they spend increasingly more time interacting online, leading to 'digital burnout' and negatively impacting their mental health and work quality. The Music Managers Forum, representing music managers in the US, published a report in 2022 highlighting the negative impacts of social media.
The report discusses the rising pressure to be constantly online, posting and engaging with fans, the emotional and time costs incurred by fans' access to idols via social media, the direct stress faced by less established musicians who manage their own social accounts, and the concerns over losing autonomy and authenticity for artists with paid social media teams. Moreover, showing vulnerability online can provoke intense public curiosity, with people eager to learn more about their personal lives.
FKA Twigs has been in the spotlight for her tumultuous love relationships, which may be one reason she wants her digital twin, AI Twigs, to handle her social media presence.
Returning to her statement, she aimed her criticism at the abuse and misuse of AI. However, she positioned herself "Throughout my career I have always embraced and experimented with new technologies, I have even directed award-winning commercials for companies such as Google and Meta, some of which have been placed as part of permanent collections within art institutions such as The BFI and MOMA archives."
Will delegating social activities to a digital alter ego truly enhance artistic creation? We must wait until AI Twigs goes live and her new album is released before drawing conclusions.
