Jack Antonoff, the frontman of Bleachers and a Grammy-winning producer, has voiced strong opinions regarding the increasing prevalence of AI-generated music. In a recent Instagram post on Wednesday, May 13, Antonoff shared a candid note with his fans, sharply criticizing individuals who utilize artificial intelligence to create musical content.

Antonoff articulated his perspective by stating, "What we do has become an ancient ritual." He emphasized that while it is now possible to bypass traditional music creation methods—such as writing, recording, and performing with a band—the core essence for traditional artists lies in rejecting optimization. "And yet for us, the idea of optimizing what we do is a complete miss of the entire point of what compels us in the first place," he asserted, speaking on behalf of the conventional music community.

His message contained a harsh rebuke for those embracing AI in art: "So to everyone who is gassed up about the new ways you can fake making art, by all means drive right off that cliff. We’re genuinely happy to see you go … godless whores." Antonoff further observed that those championing AI in the entertainment industry are often "out of touch," contrasting them with the new artists he encounters who are "genuinely uninterested in anything that doesn’t come from within."

This stance on AI is consistent with Antonoff's history of vocal activism within the music industry. He has previously spoken out against various issues, including the monopoly held by the concert industry. In an October conversation with Hayley Williams for Rolling Stone, he lamented the inability of artists and bands to profit while companies owning venues and monopolizing the industry report billions in earnings. Additionally, in April, Antonoff publicly mocked Ticketmaster on X after the company claimed to have successfully caught scalpers, sarcastically writing, "You caught you?"