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Nile Rodgers defended the use of AI in a forthcoming video for a new version of “The Christmas Song,” responding to social media criticism. He said his team developed the mood boards and storyboards and directed the AI-assisted production. The final video was expected November 20, according to the report, but its release status is not confirmed here.
Nile Rodgers has defended using AI in a forthcoming video for a new version of “The Christmas Song,” telling critics they were “being hypocritical” while arguing that his team directed the creative process. The Chic co-founder’s comments followed online criticism of images he shared from the project, which features soul singer Rebecca Ferguson and is connected to their 2020 charity collaboration.
Rodgers first posted footage of himself in a photogrammetry rig, describing it as the start of an art project and saying he was excited about the finished work. He said the idea followed a visit to see the Eagles perform at the Las Vegas Sphere. The post prompted criticism, including a commenter’s description of the project as “AI slop.” Rodgers replied that the commenter had not seen the finished work and asked whether they objected to computer-generated imagery as well.
After Rodgers shared still images from the video, criticism continued. The images showed Rodgers and Ferguson performing alongside large, fuzzy creature-like figures and a crowd of smaller figures. The report also described a title card whose lettering appeared inconsistent. Those observations concern the posted stills; they do not establish how the final video will look or what techniques were used for each element.
Responding to a commenter who questioned the use of AI for a charitable release, Rodgers said his team made mood boards and storyboards and developed the work as they would a film. He said the team “painstakingly created every second” and that a traditional film version would have cost about $100,000. That figure and the account of the production are Rodgers’ statements, not independently verified production details in the report.
AI Choices in Music Videos
The dispute highlights a distinction that is increasingly part of public debate about creative AI: whether a tool is being used for everyday functions, such as search or navigation, or to generate material in a finished work. Rodgers argued that critics use AI themselves through services such as Google and driving directions, and called it hypocritical to object to his use of the technology.
That response does not settle the separate questions raised by the video: how much of its imagery was generated, what human work shaped the result, and how audiences assess the finished piece. Because the project is linked to a charity collaboration, the exchange also puts attention on whether the production choices align with viewers’ expectations for the release. The available report does not specify the charity or provide details about proceeds.
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Rodgers’ Earlier AI Comments
Rodgers has previously spoken in support of new music technology. In 2023, he pushed back against dismissing generative AI as “fake,” comparing its potential role to tools such as drum machines and sequencers. He argued that sequencers had enabled some bands to make records.
The new video is a distinct project: a new version of “The Christmas Song,” which Rodgers and Ferguson released as a charity collaboration in 2020. Rodgers’ latest comments extend his earlier argument that technology can serve as a creative tool, while the current criticism centers on the imagery and production of this particular video.
““You’re being hypocritical.””
— Nile Rodgers, replying to a critic on Instagram
The Final Video and Its Methods
The report says the final video was expected on November 20, but it does not confirm whether it was released as scheduled or provide a link to the finished work. The precise role of AI in the production also remains unclear: Rodgers described the planning and direction, but the report does not detail which images or other elements were generated, edited, or made through conventional methods.
It is also not clear what charity will benefit from the release, how any proceeds will be handled, or whether the production budget can be independently confirmed. The available account documents Rodgers’ explanation and public reactions, not an independent review of the production process.
Release Could Clarify Production
The next development to watch is the full video’s release and whether Rodgers or his team provide further details about the tools used, the human creative work involved, and the charitable arrangement. Seeing the complete video may give audiences more information than the stills, though it would not by itself verify the production’s budget or methods.
Until those details are available, the confirmed development is the public disagreement and Rodgers’ defense of his approach. The report identifies November 20 as the expected release date, but does not establish the video’s current release status.
Key Questions
What AI-related decision is Rodgers defending?
He is defending the use of AI in a forthcoming video for a new version of “The Christmas Song,” a song connected to his 2020 charity collaboration with Rebecca Ferguson.
What did Rodgers say his team contributed?
Rodgers said the team created mood boards and storyboards, worked as they would on a film, and directed the AI. The production account is his statement and is not independently verified in the report.
Why did people criticize the video?
Some commenters objected to the use of AI, while others criticized the appearance of the creature imagery and title card in the stills Rodgers posted. The report does not establish how those elements appear in the completed video.
When was the video expected to come out?
The report said it was expected on November 20. It does not confirm whether it was released on that date.
What remains unknown about the project?
The exact AI tools and techniques used, the verified production cost, the charity’s identity and proceeds, and the final video’s release status are not established in the available report.
Source: consequence.net
