Diplo has harsh words for music producers sceptical of AI

When it comes to the controversial topic of using AI in the recording studio, you’ll often hear the argument that AI “isn’t here to replace musicians”. However, prominent producer Diplo has come forward and admitted that, in his case, it apparently has.

In a recent appearance on the Behind The Wall podcast, Diplo explains that he now relies on AI instead of real singers, as it always provides him with the “best voice” for his tracks. “I don’t even need a voice any more – I can get the best voice from AI,” he claims. “I don’t need anybody to sing the song any more.”

“I’ve had some voices that I’ve made with AI, and I’m like, ‘damn, I couldn’t even get this take out of the best singer,’” he continues. “I wouldn’t have said that to you three months ago, but the way it’s changed in the last three months, the advances are just like ‘…fuck!’”

While his stance is sure to raise some eyebrows, the producer insists that musicians need to adopt AI practices, or they’re just doing themselves a disservice. “You’re not going to win, there’s no fighting AI…” he says. “You’re wasting your time [because] everybody else is going to just use it and not give a fuck what you think.”

Despite Diplo being met with criticism in light of his comments, he doubled down on X. “If you are a creative, you need to adapt or just like give up and become an Uber driver…” he writes. “I know it’s not cool or classy to speak like this, but I’m not gonna candy-coat the future. It is what it is. Sorry for [the] bad news, my purists.”

Though, he does add that AI still needs some kind of human direction. In particular, he notes that the creatives with mental health disorders and neurodivergent minds will always have a unique approach to songwriting, something that technology can’t quite emulate. “There will always need a human mind and touch because AI will never suffer from bipolar disorder and autism like me and other creative people,” he concludes.

if you are a creative you need to adapt or just like give up and become an uber driver until everyone has a waymo. I know it’s not cool or classy to speak like this but i’m not gonna candy coat the future – it is what it is . sorry for bad new’s my purist . there will always need… https://t.co/SXswII51wv

— diplo (@diplo) April 14, 2026

Diplo’s final comment is often the first point musicians will raise when criticising the usage of AI in creative spaces. In fact, Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn told The Needle Drop that it “isn’t possible for AI to make soulful music” due to their lack of human experience back in March.

Elsewhere, Flying Lotus seems to be on the total opposite side of the AI spectrum than Diplo. Rather than seeing AI’s output as the ‘best’, he believes that AI will inevitably lead to an increased demand for human singers and instrumentalists. “Be better than the machine, be greater,” he told MusicRadar.

Artists have also started fighting against Suno AI, with February marking the start of the ‘Say No to Suno’ campaign. The movement shared an open letter, claiming that it was taking a stand against AI “hijacking the world’s entire treasure-trove of music” as it “floods platforms with AI slop and dilutes the royalty pools of legitimate artists from whose music this slop is derived”.

On the flip side, Diplo has actually gone out of his way to back AI movements, with the producer investing in AI company Aaru just last month.