Beth Orton: AI will not help humans

Singer-songwriter Beth Orton says artificial intelligence will have no positive impact on humanity. She spoke ahead of her new album, answering fan questions about creativity, her career, and the influence of David Bowie. Orton discovered her singing voice in 1989 while doing experimental theatre. “My biggest fear was singing in public,” she said. She turned a poem by Arthur Rimbaud into what she imagined was a blues song. After the performance, producer William Orbit heard her and said: “She can sing. I will make a star of her.” Despite decades in music, Orton admits she still struggles to see herself as a singer. “Even last week I was like: ‘Oh yeah, I guess I am a musician,’” she said. On writing songs, Orton said inspiration often strikes during walks or conversations. “Melody, words, and chords often come together at once,” she explained. The hard part, she added, is turning an unconscious idea into a finished song. “It can make your skin crawl because it’s hard to write a good song.”