“Oooh data driven insights and large language models, that’s so Rock n Roll,” roars rock legend Billy Idol in his latest Workday ads co-starring Coachella headliner Gwen Stefani and punk icon Travis Barker.
Airing this week during The Masters golf tournament amid eclipse mania, the spots build on a campaign launched at Super Bowl LVII where Idol, Ozzy Osbourne, Joan Jett, Gary Clark Jr. and Kiss’ Paul Stanley protest the use of the word “rock star” to describe high performers at the office.
“It’s funny to think Rock n Roll can keep you healthy doing what you love,” he told me. “It doesn’t get old. It’s a high you can get every night.”... Always tech forward, he sees the potential for AI as a tool that can to do astonishing things, like uncover songs buried deep in old demo tapes and remix them to create something new. But whether the technology can ever understand the nuance of what makes humans rock, that remains to be seen.
“I wonder if the machines can really replicate me, because, you know, I created me as a singer. I was never a naturally gifted singer, so it's not really obvious what I'm doing,” said Idol. “I mean, they could try, I see some of the things they’re doing. It all still sounds a bit faux.”