Dolly Parton on AI: I dont want to leave my soul here on this Earth
This story is an unlikely convergence of something I completely love–Dolly Parton–and something else I hate–generative AI. I’m a writer and artist. My only natural competencies are creative ones. That’s why I look at the rise of ChatGPT and other AI with suspicion. But that’s also why Dolly means so much to me. She’s a phenomenally creative person who chose to honor her natural talents and be true to herself. As a result, she became an icon of country music and one of America’s greatest songwriters. When Dolly was asked recently about whether or not she would use AI to “live on” after death, she had the perfect response.
With the help of holograms curated by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, several musical icons have been able to preserve and carry on their legacies posthumously for generations to come.
But country singer Dolly Parton recently said she has no interest in going down that path.
The 77-year-old icon doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon, with a new album, “Rockstar,” set to be released in November, but she was asked at a news conference in London last week whether she would consider living on posthumously through AI, such as with virtual concerts for fans using holograms of herself.
“I think I’ve left a great body of work behind,” Parton responded. “I don’t know how they’ll keep me around.”
“I’ll have to decide on how much of that high-tech stuff I want to be involved in because I don’t want to leave my soul here on this Earth,” she added with a laugh. “I think with some of that stuff, I feel like I’ll be grounded here forever, so when I’m gone, I want to fly with it.”
Still, Parton has no intention of letting her legacy disappear forever. “I’ll be around,” Parton added. “We’ll find ways to keep me here.”
I’ll say this: I don’t think anyone is prepared for the outpouring of grief that will come when Dolly passes on. She is so beloved by so many people around the world. Of course Dolly isn’t down for holograms or AI. I think there’s two reasons for that. First, Dolly is genuinely very religious, which she alludes to when she talks about leaving her soul on earth. She’d never try to “upload her consciousness” or whatever because she believes that death is passing from one realm to another and there’s no point trying to linger around. Second, from the very early days of her career, Dolly’s been just as good at crafting a personal brand as singing and songwriting. She’s going to plan strategically for how her brand will be presented after she’s gone. And the things that make Dolly so special–her musical brilliance, her humor, her authenticity and radiant spirit–no computer can compete with that. Dolly’s lyrical and musical genius can’t be replicated by formulaic AI. And the warmth of her persona can’t be replicated by a hologram.
photos credit: Nancy Barr/Avalon, Personalities/Avalon, Starstock/Photoshot Photo and via Instagram
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