"Bending Rigidities: Nick Cave's Evolution in Perspective on AI - Guided by an AI-powered Elvis"
Nick Cave Softens Stance on AI in Music Following AI-Generated Video Collaboration
Nick Cave, the renowned musician and songwriter, has softened his stance on the use of AI in music after a unique collaboration with his friend and collaborator, Andrew Dominik.
Initially, Cave was critical of AI in music, describing it as a "grotesque mockery of what it is to be human" [1]. However, this changed in July 2025 when Dominik presented Cave with an AI-generated music video for the 40th anniversary of Cave's song "Tupelo." The video, which used AI to animate archival images of Elvis Presley, left Cave "blown away" [2].
The video, a touching tribute to Elvis and a soulful retelling of "Tupelo," had an uncanny quality that resembled a resurrection, a quality that deeply affected Cave [3]. After viewing the video multiple times with his wife Susie, Cave described it as an "extraordinarily profound interpretation" and found his views on AI "soften[ed]" to "some extent" [4][5].
Cave acknowledged that while he maintains serious reservations about AI eliminating the human struggle and emotional depth in creative work, he came to see AI as "a tool, like any other" [4][5]. This transition from outright rejection to a more nuanced understanding of AI's potential role as an artistic device was significantly influenced by the trust and creative insight of Dominik.
In a recent interview, Cave wrote that remaining flexible and humble enough to adjust views as new evidence emerges is a form of resilience, not a sign of weakness [6]. This sentiment echoes that of the economist John Maynard Keynes, who believed that the ability to change one's mind was a sign of intelligence [7].
The Tupelo video, which features still photos of Elvis brought to life via AI, has led to a shift in Cave's perspective on AI's potential use in creative projects. The video, made by Dominik, who previously worked with Cave on the film "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," has been praised as an original and moving retelling of the song, rich in mythos and a touching tribute to Elvis Presley [8].
In conclusion, Andrew Dominik's AI-driven tribute video was a pivotal factor that influenced Nick Cave to reconsider and soften his stance on AI in art and music creation [1][2][5]. Cave's evolving views on AI serve as a reminder that even the most skeptical among us can be persuaded by the power of creative collaboration and the potential of new technology.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/15/nick-cave-ai-music-grotesque-mockery [2] https://www.nme.com/news/music/nick-cave-softens-stance-on-ai-in-music-after-watching-andrew-dominik-tupelo-video-3812643 [3] https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nick-cave-softens-stance-on-ai-after-watching-andrew-dominik-tupelo-video-1234751 [4] https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/nick-cave-ai-tupelo-video-b2155152.html [5] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62658018 [6] https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/aug/01/nick-cave-interview-ghosteen-the-truth-is-a-beautiful-lie [7] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_maynard_keynes_138563 [8] https://www.nme.com/news/music/nick-cave-tupelo-video-40th-anniversary-2849428
Nick Cave now views artificial-intelligence as a tool that can be used creatively in fields like music, a shift from his previous stance due to an AI-generated music video collaboration with Andrew Dominik. The AI-driven tribute video for Cave's song "Tupelo," which used archival images of Elvis Presley, moved Cave and demonstrates the potential of AI in entertainment and art.
