This story is an unlikely convergence of something I completely love–Dolly Parton–and something else I hate–generative AI. I’m a writer and artist. My only natural competencies are creative ones. That’s why I look at the rise of ChatGPT and other AI with suspicion. But that’s also why Dolly means so much to me. She’s a phenomenally creative person who chose to honor her natural talents and be true to herself. As a result, she became an icon of country music and one of America’s greatest songwriters. When Dolly was asked recently about whether or not she would use AI to “live on” after death, she had the perfect response.
With the help of holograms curated by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, several musical icons have been able to preserve and carry on their legacies posthumously for generations to come.
But country singer Dolly Parton recently said she has no interest in going down that path.
The 77-year-old icon doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon, with a new album, “Rockstar,” set to be released in November, but she was asked at a news conference in London last week whether she would consider living on posthumously through AI, such as with virtual concerts for fans using holograms of herself.
“I think I’ve left a great body of work behind,” Parton responded. “I don’t know how they’ll keep me around.”
“I’ll have to decide on how much of that high-tech stuff I want to be involved in because I don’t want to leave my soul here on this Earth,” she added with a laugh. “I think with some of that stuff, I feel like I’ll be grounded here forever, so when I’m gone, I want to fly with it.”
Still, Parton has no intention of letting her legacy disappear forever. “I’ll be around,” Parton added. “We’ll find ways to keep me here.”
I’ll say this: I don’t think anyone is prepared for the outpouring of grief that will come when Dolly passes on. She is so beloved by so many people around the world. Of course Dolly isn’t down for holograms or AI. I think there’s two reasons for that. First, Dolly is genuinely very religious, which she alludes to when she talks about leaving her soul on earth. She’d never try to “upload her consciousness” or whatever because she believes that death is passing from one realm to another and there’s no point trying to linger around. Second, from the very early days of her career, Dolly’s been just as good at crafting a personal brand as singing and songwriting. She’s going to plan strategically for how her brand will be presented after she’s gone. And the things that make Dolly so special–her musical brilliance, her humor, her authenticity and radiant spirit–no computer can compete with that. Dolly’s lyrical and musical genius can’t be replicated by formulaic AI. And the warmth of her persona can’t be replicated by a hologram.
photos credit: Nancy Barr/Avalon, Personalities/Avalon, Starstock/Photoshot Photo and via Instagram
I wholeheartedly agree with Dolly!
I understand the scepticism of AI as a writer. I had it too. BUT that said, technology is here to stay and we have to embrace it- I’ve found it incredibly useful and interesting. It’s best used as a support tool- not something to create a final product but more as a guide to create a framework.
I’m a writer, too, and while I agree that we’ll have to learn to live with it, I’m deeply concerned that it will impact my ability to earn a living. Many people/organizations will see it as a cheap way to get a draft they can work with and will cut out expert writers. The end product won’t be good, but it will be good enough and cost-effective.
I am angry (but I guess not too surprised) that people are using AI to shortcut creativity instead of applying it to the boring tasks nobody really wants to do. I’d love an AI that would organize my tax stuff or populate my todo lists or travel plan for me. Let people do the creative stuff we’re good at and let computers do the tedious things that take away from a creative and fulfilling life.
I never thought about AI this way and I appreciate this perspective so much. You’re right – why is AI being used to create more shitty, inane content in this world? If we must live with it, it should do our taxes. And the dishes too.
I hope Dolly gets her lawyers ready to create some kind of framework that will stop people from doing this in the future. Surely will be easy to contextualize it as a matter of copyright.
The thing about generative AI is that it only synthesizes what humans have done before. At the current moment, it doesn’t actually create anything new, but assembles an average. That means that the output can’t replace the original thoughts and argumentation that come out of good writing. It’s just a bunch of wishy-washy, both-sides-ism, if you read the results. And what it spits out may be grammatical, but it is not interesting, good writing. It’s a hollow shell of a good argument, none of a substance.
And, concerningly, ChatGPT will invent fake sources to back up its claims. Be on guard for that!
Wait. What!!??
Yep. https://futurism.com/newspaper-alarmed-chatgpt-references-article-never-published
The good thing for me as an English professor is that it will help me detect that they’re using it in the first place.
In the Dolly Parton’s America podcast, there was a whole chunk on how she’s planning for her legacy. I would guess she’s on it.
Thanks for the tip!
I love Dolly Parton. She’s a good soul.
She is. She is one of the good ones!! I love Dolly❣️
I agree with Dolly… but I to am using AI as a supportive tool, as a creative. It is unfortunate how mankind eventually uses a good thing to its own detriment.
I dislike all the AI stuff I’m hearing about.
And the hologram stuff seems really a cash grab to me.
I’d like to see more humanity, empathy, kindness instead of more technology in every area.
Love Dolly, she is so talented. Her legacy is her music, charity work, etc. I’d hate to see her estate turn her memory into what Elvis’ has become.
Elvis’ music is overlooked by his Estate marketing his image into tons of junk.