In a surprising move within the K-pop community, Seventeen’s Woozi addressed rumors of AI being used to write the band’s music on Instagram. This comes after a British media outlet reported that the boy band had experimented with AI to create a music video. Woozi clarified in a statement that all of Seventeen’s music is written and composed by human creators, dispelling any notion of AI involvement.
Carats, fans of Seventeen in the UAE, quickly clarified that Woozi’s quotes from a Korean interview were misinterpreted. While the use of Artificial Intelligence is becoming more common and normalized in various fields in South Korea, fans in the UAE have been debating the use of AI in creative fields, especially music. Israa Abid, a resident of the UAE, mentioned that AI was used in the video production process but not in writing the lyrics.
The uniqueness of K-pop’s identity is something that fans like Abid are passionate about. She expressed concerns about AI taking away the emotions and feelings expressed through music, making it difficult for listeners to relate to songs created by a computer. She believes that true creativity lies with humans and that AI should be more focused on research and science rather than art. Other fans also shared similar sentiments about the authenticity and uniqueness of K-pop music.
Woozi’s decision to experiment with AI was driven by a desire to protect Seventeen’s unique identity, as mentioned by Abid. Some fans, like Husna Murad, feel that AI is being unfairly demonized and should be viewed more as an assistance than a replacement for human creativity. Caryn Weilson echoed this sentiment, stating that as long as the artist’s audience remains connected to the music and the artist stays true to their art, the use of AI as a creative tool should not be a cause for concern.
