Empire of the Sun's Luke Steele says he uses AI, calls it 'a really smart guitar pedal'
Asked by iHeartRadio Canada whether he uses AI, Empire of the Sun’s Luke Steele answered “of course”. The Australian musician went on to describe generative AI as studio equipment rather than a threat, and to warn the artists resisting it that they are on the losing side.
His framing is the most quotable line an established act has given the AI debate this year.
I love the battle now. It's quite exciting, the humans versus AI. But you know it's just another tool. It's like a really smart guitar pedal.
What Luke Steele’s guitar pedal comparison actually claims
The pedal analogy does real work. A pedal shapes a signal you played, it does not play for you, and framing AI that way keeps the human performance at the center of the process.
Steele pushed the point further into a warning. He said AI is going to give artists who learn to use it an advantage large enough to make them “unstoppable”, and then delivered the line that carried the story: “The artists that are against it, you’ve got to be careful because it’s going to come and swallow you like the boogie monster at night.”
The environmental question Steele skipped
MusicRadar noted Steele shrugged off the environmental impact of AI when it came up.
That is the gap in his argument, and the timing makes it louder. In the same week Steele was calling AI a smart pedal, Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley and Tanya Tucker were campaigning against the data centers that make the pedal work. Two artists can both be right about their own studio and still be arguing about different things.
Where Steele sits among artists talking about AI
Public positions from established acts have mostly been cautious or hostile. Ariana Grande gave a measured read on AI covers, and Boy George’s AI-assisted release turned into a reputational mess rather than a template.
Steele is doing something different by treating disclosure as unremarkable. He said yes without hedging, named it as a tool, and moved on.
Frequently asked questions
Does Empire of the Sun's Luke Steele use AI in his music?
Yes. Asked directly by iHeartRadio Canada whether he uses AI, Steele answered "of course". He described it as another tool in the production process rather than a replacement for musicianship.
What did Luke Steele compare AI music tools to?
Steele called AI "just another tool" and said "it's like a really smart guitar pedal". The comparison frames generative AI as studio equipment that shapes a sound rather than a system that writes the music for you.
What did Luke Steele say about artists who oppose AI?
He warned them directly. "The artists that are against it, you've got to be careful because it's going to come and swallow you like the boogie monster at night," Steele said. He also argued AI will give artists who learn it a large advantage over those who do not.
About the author
Covering AI music tools, industry shifts, and news for music creators and professionals. Twice-weekly newsletter at aimusicpreneur.com.
