An AI artist recently topped the iTunes/Apple Music Christian charts, prompting a backlash from Christians and discussions over where to draw the line when it comes to artificial intelligence and faith.
“Solomon Ray”, a computer creation of Christopher Jermaine Townsend (also known as Topher), has “an AI voice and a Mississippi soul” according to the artist’s Instagram page.
With more than 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Ray’s popularity has soared since first putting out music in October. Ray climbed to the top of the charts with his album Faithful Soul and hit song Find Your Rest making him the first AI artist to get a double No.1. But, of course, he’s not real.
“I think it’s important that we just pause a little bit and kind of ask the question of ‘Is this something that we want?’” said Christian singer Forrest Frank who took to social media to address the AI artist’s position on the charts. “At a minimum, AI does not have the Holy Spirit inside of it, so I think that’s really weird to be opening up your spirit to something that has no spirit.”
“Who am I to say what God will or won’t use to get the message His people need to them,” said Townsend.
