Holly Herndon has emerged as one of the most innovative figures at the intersection of artificial intelligence and music, earning recognition on Business Insider’s AI Power List for her groundbreaking work in creative AI applications. The experimental musician has distinguished herself by pushing the boundaries of art and technology through her pioneering use of neural networks and AI-generated vocal models.
In 2021, Herndon made headlines by creating a vocal deepfake of herself, training a sophisticated neural network on recordings of her own voice. What set this project apart was her decision to make this AI model publicly available, allowing anyone to transform their voices into hers. This bold move represents more than just technological experimentation—it’s a deliberate statement about artist autonomy in the age of AI.
Working alongside her partner Mat Dryhurst, Herndon has positioned herself at the forefront of AI-generated art and music. Their collaborative work explores how artificial intelligence can be harnessed as a creative tool while maintaining artistic control and integrity. The duo’s projects challenge conventional notions of authorship, creativity, and the role of technology in artistic expression.
Herndon’s motivation extends beyond pure artistic exploration. She views her AI work as a form of resistance against traditional music-streaming platforms, particularly Spotify, which she criticizes for making it increasingly difficult for musicians to earn sustainable income. According to Herndon, these platforms employ a “one-size-fits-all” approach to music that fails to serve the diverse needs of artists and listeners alike.
By democratizing access to her AI voice model, Herndon hopes to inspire other artists to take control of their digital identities and creative outputs. Her approach suggests a future where musicians can leverage AI technology on their own terms, rather than having it imposed upon them by tech companies or streaming services. This philosophy represents a proactive stance in an industry increasingly shaped by algorithmic curation and AI-generated content.
Herndon’s inclusion on Business Insider’s AI Power List acknowledges her significant influence in shaping conversations about AI’s role in creative industries. Her work demonstrates that AI doesn’t have to be a threat to artistic authenticity—instead, it can be a tool for empowerment when artists maintain control over how the technology is developed and deployed.
Key Quotes
In 2021, she created a vocal deepfake of herself by training a neural network on her voice, then lending it to the public to turn their voices into hers
This describes Herndon’s landmark project that democratized access to her AI voice model, representing a radical approach to sharing AI technology with the public rather than keeping it proprietary.
a move she hopes will encourage other artists to take control over their work
This explains Herndon’s broader motivation—not just personal experimentation, but creating a model for other artists to follow in maintaining control over their digital identities and creative outputs in the AI age.
pushing back against music-streaming platforms like Spotify that she says make it harder for musicians to make money and take a one-size-fits-all approach to music
This reveals Herndon’s critique of the current music industry infrastructure and positions her AI work as a form of resistance against platforms that she believes exploit artists and homogenize musical culture.
Our Take
Herndon’s approach to AI represents a fascinating third way between AI skepticism and uncritical adoption. Rather than rejecting AI as a threat or embracing it as corporate-controlled inevitability, she’s demonstrating how artists can seize these tools for themselves. This is particularly significant as debates about AI-generated content often focus on replacement fears or copyright concerns. Herndon shows that artists can be AI developers, not just subjects of AI systems. Her work also highlights an underappreciated aspect of the AI revolution: who controls the models matters as much as the technology itself. By open-sourcing her voice model, she’s challenging the proprietary approach of tech giants and suggesting that creative AI could follow a more democratic path. This positions her not just as an artist, but as a thought leader shaping how we think about AI governance in creative fields.
Why This Matters
Holly Herndon’s work represents a critical moment in the evolution of AI and creative industries. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of generating music, art, and other creative content, questions about authorship, compensation, and artistic control have become urgent. Herndon’s proactive approach—creating her own AI model and sharing it publicly—offers a potential blueprint for how artists can maintain agency in an AI-driven future.
Her critique of streaming platforms highlights broader tensions in the music industry, where algorithms and AI-powered recommendation systems increasingly determine what music gets heard and how artists get paid. By positioning AI as a tool for artist empowerment rather than corporate control, Herndon challenges the narrative that AI will inevitably displace or exploit creative workers.
This matters beyond music: every creative industry faces similar questions about how AI will reshape production, distribution, and compensation. Herndon’s model of artist-controlled AI could influence how writers, visual artists, and other creators approach these technologies, potentially leading to more equitable outcomes than if development remains solely in corporate hands.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/holly-herndon-ai-music-art-ai-power-list-2024