AI Singing Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” 

AI is getting better and better at creating art.  This fuels the debate about the ethics and implications of bot-generated art, leaving many people worried about what it means when a computer can even mimic the creativity that many previously thought was meant for humans.

Holly Herndon, an avant-garde pop musician, has released a cover version of Dolly Parton’s much-loved and oft-covered hit “Jolene”.  Except that it’s not Herndon who actually sings, but her digital deepfake twin known as Holly+.

Herndon’s rendition hums with a big, round sound drenched in reverb and backed by a bouncy acoustic riff and plaintive chorus. And she has a nice voice. Sounds like indie folk, but it’s certainly an effective showcase for AI with a hint of creative flair.