Desplat on AI: 'Why would I use an instrument to tell me what to dream?'
At Venice's Future of Creativity event, composer Alexandre Desplat shared his skepticism about AI in music, saying he'd rather quit than let it dictate his creative dreams.
Venice, September 4: At The Future of Creativity event in Venice, acclaimed composer Alexandre Desplat offered a personal and philosophical take on artificial intelligence in music, expressing deep skepticism about its place in his creative process.
Speaking in a recorded interview, Desplat said he sees no current reason to adopt AI in his work. "For now I don't see why," he remarked, adding that if he ever ran out of musical ideas, he would simply pursue something else—perhaps playing a flute on a hill in Greece—rather than turn to a machine.
Desplat, known for his film scores, described music writing as his lifelong dream, one he wakes up with each morning and carries into the night. He characterized AI as pointing toward a destination he may not wish to visit, emphasizing that the journey of composition is his own choice.
The composer reflected on the creative process, noting that solutions often arrive after sleep or a siesta, seemingly on their own. "Why would I use an instrument to tell me what I have to dream of?" he asked, underscoring his belief that artistic inspiration should remain deeply human.