Shaan has voiced strong disapproval of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recreate songs in the voices of legendary singers like Kishore Kumar. He has termed the trend "cruel" and "unfair," especially concerning the recent AI-generated version of the song "Saiyaara" in Kishore Kumar’s voice.
Shaan criticized the AI song voice swap trend, where AI tools reimagine late singers for covers of new songs. He argues that AI-generated tracks cannot capture the originality and emotional depth that the original artists brought to their performances. He finds it inappropriate to honor deceased artists this way. Speaking to ANI, Shaan said he finds it "very cruel" when AI is used to produce songs as if they were sung by Kishore Kumar or Mohammed Rafi. He noted that their singing styles varied significantly across the 1940s, 1960s, and 1980s, implying that their present-day renditions would also be different.
Shaan also expressed his frustration that audiences are comparing these AI versions to the original artists. He specifically addressed the "new generation" who might be hearing Kishore Kumar's voice for the first time through AI-generated songs like "Saiyaara". He urged them to instead listen to the original songs by Kishore Kumar, which came "out of his throat, came out of his sensibilities". He stated, "The audience is so silly, they're even comparing it with them. I'm just saying they shouldn't do this AI... That is not fair, man".
Furthermore, Shaan argued that AI cannot replicate the dynamic qualities of a singer's voice, which evolve across different songs and moments. He believes that cloning just a few tracks to create multiple covers diminishes the authenticity of the artist's work. Shaan stated that it is wrong to make a song sound as if it was sung by a particular artist, emphasizing, "You can't AI a person whose singing has been so dynamic. So it's wrong that you take the tone of any four songs and make tons of tracks and covers with that".
Shaan is not alone in his concerns. The emergence of AI-generated voices has sparked debate within the music industry, raising ethical and artistic implications. While some recognize AI's potential in certain situations, such as when an artist is inaccessible, concerns remain about fairness to the artist's family and heirs, as well as the potential threat to existing artists. Shaan had previously voiced similar concerns regarding AI-generated voices of the late KK, a close friend, deeming it an insensitive invasion of privacy.
Despite his reservations about AI, Shaan is set to perform at The Grand Theatre, NMACC in Mumbai on September 19, in an event titled "Forever Kishore Shaan Se," a concert honoring Kishore Kumar's musical legacy. Organized by NR Talent and Event Management, this tribute marks Shaan's first full-scale concert dedicated to one of his major musical influences, aiming to offer audiences a genuine experience of Kishore Kumar's timeless melodies.
In a broader context, Shaan has also spoken about the evolution of AI in music, acknowledging its potential while emphasizing that it has yet to replicate the authenticity of human voices. He noted the ongoing research to patent voices, allowing artists to protect their unique sound, and the development of laws requiring prior permission for using a recorded voice, which he sees as an essential safeguard for artists in the digital age.
