As artificial intelligence continues to reshape conversations around music production, one of electronic music’s most influential figures has offered a clear perspective. Thomas Bangalter, co-founder of Daft Punk, has said he is “not really interested in the creative usage of artificial intelligence,” arguing that artistic creation is rooted in emotion rather than prompts or algorithms.
The comments were made during a live conversation with Yana Peel, President of Arts, Culture & Heritage at CHANEL, during Art Basel in Switzerland, where Thomas Bangalter reflected on creativity, technology, architecture and the future of artistic expression.
Beyond Prompts and Algorithms
For Thomas Bangalter, the issue is not simply the existence of AI, but the way it approaches creativity.
Speaking about his artistic process, he explained that AI relies on verbal instructions and prompts, whereas his own work emerges from something far less tangible.
The most interesting part of the creative process is happening not at all on an intellectual level,
he said, describing creation as a journey of understanding emotions rather than translating words into output.
Thomas Bangalter suggested that the moments when an artist struggles to describe an idea are often the moments closest to genuine creativity, where instinct, feeling and intuition take precedence over language.
Architecture as a Creative Blueprint
The conversation extended beyond music into architecture, which Thomas Bangalter described as perhaps the most creative of all artistic disciplines.
He praised architecture’s ability to blur the boundaries between fiction and reality, creating spaces that exist simultaneously as practical structures and imaginative works of art. That perspective reflects a broader philosophy that has long shaped his career, where sound, visuals and physical environments are treated as interconnected elements of a single artistic language.
The discussion also explored the influence of figures such as Andy Warhol, the iconic film Metropolis, and Thomas Bangalter’s recent transition into orchestral composition and ballet.
A New Creative Chapter
Since Daft Punk announced their split in 2021, Thomas Bangalter has increasingly explored artistic formats beyond electronic music.
His recent projects include orchestral works, film scoring and contemporary dance, most recently with Mirage – Ballet for 16 Dancers, an eight-track composition created for choreographer Damien Jalet and visual artist Kōhei Nawa. The project reflects Thomas Bangalter’s continuing interest in expanding musical storytelling beyond the dancefloor.
Earlier this summer, he also appeared at Art Basel for Warehouse Artefacts, an immersive performance alongside Julien Charrière and Rampa, before making a surprise appearance at a no-phones event where he performed on a custom modular setup featuring analogue synthesizers and drum machines.
Human Emotion in the Age of AI
Thomas Bangalter’s comments arrive at a time when artificial intelligence has become one of the most debated topics in the music industry. As AI-generated compositions become increasingly sophisticated, artists continue to question whether technology can replicate the emotional depth that defines human creativity.
Rather than rejecting technological innovation altogether, Thomas Bangalter’s perspective draws a distinction between tools and artistic intention. Throughout Daft Punk’s career, technology was never presented as the destination itself, but as a medium through which human ideas, emotions and imagination could be expressed.
That philosophy remains central to his work today. While AI may continue to transform how music is produced, Thomas Bangalter suggests that the essence of creativity still begins somewhere machines cannot easily reach: human feeling.
📷 : Cover Photo / Courtesy of Alberts & Gothmaan and Fred again..
📷 : Additional Photo Credits / Courtesy of Thomas Bangalter, Rampa Keinemusik and Julian Charrière
