At Digital Tech Explorer, we’re always tracking the evolving dialogue around technology and creativity. A recent focal point in this discussion comes from celebrated Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, who has taken a firm stance against generative AI music. In a candid interview with JASRAC Magazine, Uematsu explicitly rejected its use, a move that resonates across the tech and arts communities. This rejection emerges amidst the rising experimental use of AI in the arts, exemplified by the emergence of AI “musicians” like The Velvet Sundown, prompting crucial questions about how veteran artists perceive such technological advancements.
Uematsu’s Core Reasons for Rejecting AI Music
As reported by Automaton, Uematsu emphatically stated in the JASRAC interview that he has “never used AI and probably never will.” His core argument hinges on the inherent value of human instability in music. He believes that music created by people is “unstable, and everyone does it in their own unique way. And what makes it sound so satisfying are precisely those fluctuations and imperfections.” This perspective aligns with his previous concerns about the evolution of game music. Last year, he voiced apprehension about a worrisome wave of game directors settling for “Hollywood-style scores,” suggesting that this approach hinders the unique expression of composers. More recently, Uematsu lamented a perceived stagnation in game music, noting a lack of “weird things” and too many composers imitating John Williams.
Creative Limitations of Generative AI
Uematsu firmly believes that generative AI cannot produce truly compelling or unique art because it is fundamentally limited by the training data it relies upon. For him, the industry’s challenges are not technological but creative. He argued that the technological advancements for music in games reached their “final form” when musicians could incorporate their studio recordings directly into games. He also cited binaural audio as a significant advancement, which was famously implemented in Final Fantasy X. However, he questions the future demand for such technological sophistication from players, emphasizing that the true issues lie in creative vision rather than a lack of technological capability.
The Reward of Human Creation and Artist’s Background
While Uematsu acknowledged that AI tools might offer minor assistance to composers, for instance, in smoothing “how smoothly they can switch between certain sounds,” he ultimately emphasized the profound reward derived from the ‘hardships’ of human creation. He shared that for him, the “hardships of creating something myself” yield a much more satisfying experience. Furthermore, Uematsu highlighted the crucial role of an artist’s personal background in the listener’s enjoyment, stating, “When you listen to music, the fun is also in discovering the background of the person who created it, right? AI does not have that kind of background.”
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