Legendary parody singer "Weird Al" Yankovic has publicly stated his refusal to engage with artificial intelligence in his creative work, even when presented with significant financial incentives. Speaking during his current "Bigger & Weirder" tour, Yankovic shared an anecdote about a commercial offer he recently declined.
According to a report, Yankovic was approached with a proposal for a commercial that was described as being for a business software designed to increase productivity. The offer included "a nice pile of money," which initially piqued his interest. However, he discovered shortly before the scheduled shoot that the project intended to use AI. Yankovic expressed his discomfort, stating, "I can’t be the poster boy for AI," and subsequently withdrew from the commitment.
This stance contrasts with several other public figures who have lent their voices or likenesses to AI ventures. The article notes instances such as Reese Witherspoon's social media posts about keeping up with technology, and the news that Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine have reportedly sold their voices to the AI company ElevenLabs. The piece also references a controversial Apple AI advertisement featuring Bella Ramsey that was reportedly pulled.
Weird Al Yankovic, who has not released a new album since 2014, is currently working on a Broadway musical. Titled "Dare to be Stupid: The Weird Al Musical," the production is a collaboration with Alex Timbers, Scott Brown, and Anthony King, and will feature many of his well-known parody songs.