Are Artists Witnessing Their Own Extinction?

Composer Tarik O’Regan reflects on how artificial intelligence is transforming classical music and the wider creative industries, questioning whether artists are witnessing their own extinction. While recording a BBC Radio 3 documentary in Silicon Valley, O’Regan and producer Fay Lomas encountered tech futurists who confidently claimed AI would soon replace professional creatives entirely. The experience shifted their view from curiosity to unease, as optimism around collaboration gave way to talk of obsolescence. O’Regan criticizes institutions like the Royal Ballet and Opera for embracing AI without addressing ethics, consent, or job loss, likening the technology to “atomic energy for the arts.” He concludes that AI’s rise feels less like riding a wave of progress and more like surrendering control over cultural creation.

The Guardian, Tarik O’Regan – ‘I’m a composer. Am I staring extinction in the face?’: classical music and AI – 9th October 2025