Gary Numan shares belief that "AI will ultimately end mankind"

Gary Numan has shared his theory that artificial intelligence (AI) will "ultimately end mankind." 

The legendary synth-pop musician made the comments in an interview with Music Radar published yesterday (July 8), where he reminisced on the demise of Numa Records, and the dangers of AI technology. 

“I’m too old to fear it because by the time it's done the damage it will do I'll probably be retired, but there's so many different ways of looking at AI," he said. "Ultimately, I believe it will be the end of mankind, but from an artistic point of view it will do amazing things." 

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Numan adds that he believes the technology will produce a "vast amount" of AI performers, rendering musicians as "replaceable as a fucking cotton bud".

“My wife, Gemma, has long had this fear of robot armies marching down the streets and zapping people, but I don't believe that's going to happen and I think AI will do a lot of good as well," he continues. 

"It's going to make amazing advances in technology, healthcare and diagnostics and so on, but it’s a pivotal moment in our history as far as the hierarchy of people making the decisions, and who's ruining the planet.”

Numan is currently promoting the reissue of his 1984 album 'Bezerker', which was a critical success but failed to replicate that in its commercial performance, beginning a series of events that would lead to the closure of his imprint Numa Records by 1990.

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In his interview with Music Radar, Numan also shared his belief that it was "impossible" for an independent label to compete in the mainstream music industry. 

"You were fighting against such ridiculous expectations, costs and bullying," he says. "I'm not blaming them for the demise of Numa Records, because I'm sure I contributed to that myself though my stupidity and ridiculous optimism, but they were awful and every time one of them went under I would rub my hands with joy.”

[Via: Music Radar]

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter