Zac Brown Band's John Driskell Hopkins Fears AI's Devastating Impact on Humanity

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John Driskell Hopkins, founding member of the Zac Brown Band, expresses his deep concern over the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the human experience. He believes AI could have devastating consequences for humanity.

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Zac Brown Band's John Driskell Hopkins has shared his fears about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on society. In an interview with Fox News Digital, the musician, who was diagnosed with ALS in December 2021, discussed his concerns about the technology's implications.

Hopkins explained that he is "scared to death" of AI's potential to be used for malicious purposes. He recalled an interaction he witnessed between a woman and a chatbot, where the chatbot was manipulated into slandering the woman's reputation.

"It's only going to get exponentially faster and smarter," Hopkins said.

While many musicians have expressed concern about AI's impact on the music industry, Hopkins is more concerned about its broader effects on humanity.

"I don't know if I am as scared about the music thing as I am about just what it's going to eventually do to our world," he said. "Just scares me."

Hopkins emphasized the importance of human connection and authenticity in the arts and expressed hope that people will continue to value the unique qualities that come from live performances.

"At the end of the day, someone wants to come see another person singing and playing on stage. You can't AI that. You can have a robot do it, and they might be better than me, but you're not gonna get the mistakes or the humanity," he said.

Despite the challenges of living with ALS, Hopkins has remained dedicated to his passion for music. He continues to perform with the Zac Brown Band, which is currently on tour.

"We had rehearsals last month, and no one complained. So, I'm out there," he said with a laugh. "The minute everyone's like, 'Uh, dude, you need to kinda hold it back,' I will step away, but, you know, I'm so incredibly good-looking, they have to have me on stage."

In May 2022, Hopkins founded Hop On A Cure, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to researching ALS. He believes that the key to finding a cure lies in continued research.

"The answer is in the research, and we want to fix it," he said.

Hopkins's concerns about AI and his commitment to finding a cure for ALS reflect his deep belief in the importance of human connection, creativity, and perseverance in the face of adversity.