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Nile Rodgers defended using AI in a music video for a new version of “The Christmas Song,” responding to criticism on Instagram. He says the team developed the concept and directed the AI-generated work; the finished video is expected Nov. 20, though its production details and release plans have not been independently confirmed in the source report.
Nile Rodgers is defending his use of AI in a forthcoming music video for a new version of “The Christmas Song,” after viewers criticized images he shared online. The Chic co-founder said his team created the concept and painstakingly directed the work, while arguing that some critics use AI in everyday services themselves.
Rodgers first posted footage of himself in a photogrammetry rig, describing it as an early step in an art project. He said seeing the Eagles perform at the Las Vegas Sphere inspired the direction. The project is a video for a new version of “The Christmas Song,” which Consequence described as a song Rodgers recorded in 2020 as a charity collaboration with singer Rebecca Ferguson.
After a commenter dismissed the project as “AI slop,” Rodgers asked whether the person also objected to computer-generated imagery and said they had not yet seen his work. He later posted stills showing Rodgers and Ferguson onstage alongside large, fuzzy fantasy creatures. Some commenters continued to criticize the apparent AI imagery, including one who questioned using the technology for a charitable release.
Rodgers said the team developed mood boards and storyboards and directed the AI, adding that a traditionally produced film would have cost about $100,000. That figure and the account of the production are Rodgers’ statements, as relayed by Consequence; the report does not provide an independent budget or a detailed breakdown of which elements were generated by AI.
The Debate Over Creative AI
The dispute highlights a growing divide over how audiences judge generative AI in creative work. Rodgers presents the technology as a tool used under human direction, comparing it with established production methods. Critics, by contrast, have objected to the video’s apparent look and to the use of AI in a project connected to charity.
The exchange also turns on a distinction between using AI as a utility and using it to make images. Rodgers points to services such as Google and driving directions as examples of everyday AI use. That comparison does not resolve concerns raised about AI-generated creative output, including how it is made and what role human artists play. The source report does not establish what tools were used or whether any particular artists’ work informed the imagery.
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From Capture Post to Video Preview
Rodgers’ initial post described the photogrammetry capture as the start of a larger project, rather than showing a completed video. Photogrammetry records a subject from multiple angles to create a digital representation; the report says the images suggest Rodgers and Ferguson may have been recreated in some way, but does not confirm that process.
Rodgers has previously expressed support for technology in music-making. In 2023, he compared generative AI criticism with earlier skepticism about tools such as drum machines and sequencers, which he said had enabled some bands to make records. The comparison reflects his stated position; it does not establish that musical instruments and generative video systems raise identical questions.
““I can’t believe you’d go on record without even seeing what I’m doing.””
— Nile Rodgers, responding to a critic on Instagram
Production Details Still Unverified
The available report does not identify the AI systems or vendors used, explain which images or video elements were generated, or describe how the performers’ likenesses were incorporated. Rodgers’ description of the team’s creative process and the estimated traditional-production cost have not been independently verified in the supplied material.
The report says the final video is expected November 20, based on one of Rodgers’ posts, but does not specify the release platform or confirm whether that date is final. It also does not provide a statement from Rebecca Ferguson or explain how proceeds from the charity-linked recording will be handled.
A November Video Release
Rodgers’ post, as reported by Consequence, points to November 20, 2026, for the finished video. Until it is released, the posted stills and his description provide only a partial view of the project. The final video may clarify how AI was used and what the completed visuals look like, but the supplied reporting does not confirm that it will include production credits or technical details.
Further information about the production, Ferguson’s involvement and the charity arrangements may come from the artists or the video’s release materials. No additional statements or changes to the announced timing are included in the source report.
Key Questions
What is Nile Rodgers using AI for?
He is using it as part of a music video for a new version of “The Christmas Song.” The specific AI tools and the parts of the video made with them have not been detailed in the supplied report.
What has Rodgers said about the criticism?
Rodgers said his team created mood boards and storyboards and directed the AI. He also argued that critics use AI in everyday services, while a commenter questioned the project’s apparent AI imagery and its connection to charity.
Who is featured in the video?
Stills shared by Rodgers show him with Rebecca Ferguson, his collaborator on the song, alongside fantasy creatures. The source report does not give a complete cast or production-credit list.
When is the video expected?
The report says a post from Rodgers indicated a planned release on November 20, 2026. The release platform and whether the date is final are not specified.
Source: consequence.net
