AR Rahman: “A Human Heart is Essential for Creating a Tune, Not Artificial Intelligence”

Composer AR Rahman acknowledges the utility of Artificial Intelligence (AI) but firmly believes it cannot replace the artistry and creativity of musicians.

In an interview with The Week, the acclaimed Maestro of Madras stated, “AI helps in the mastering process, but creating a tune still requires a human heart and philosophical mind. I believe the future will belong to real musicians going on stage with a guitar and a song. I feel that, with digitisation, we will value the flaws even more—‘Oh, it’s real, see? He is out of tune.’”

Rahman compared AI to Frankenstein, describing it as “trained on collected, stolen knowledge.” He noted, “[AI] is good as a starting tool. I use AI for posters. Sometimes the result surprises you, and sometimes it is very bad, in which case I use a combination of Photoshop and AI.”

In the same interview, Rahman also expressed a desire to work again with director Mani Ratnam. He shared, “I think the more trust you have in someone, the more you torture yourself. Some directors are very clear about what they want, so the projects move faster. But Mani Ratnam will say, ‘Give me something,’ and you wonder and torture yourself to give him something inspiring. Meanwhile, he quietly enjoys it, in a good way, of course.”

Rahman and Ratnam have collaborated on several notable projects over the years, including Roja, Bombay, Yuva, and Guru.