Kenyan media personality Laura Mbatha has sparked a conversation about the growing use of artificial intelligence in music, particularly in the gospel space, after questioning whether AI-generated worship songs could amount to a form of idolatry.
“Siku hizi mko intimate na inanimate objects. I get secular AI music, but AI music has to be some kind of idolatry,” she said.
AI Music Enters The Mainstream
AI-generated music has moved from being a novelty to a growing part of the global music conversation, with tools such as Suno and Udio allowing users to create complete songs, including vocals and instrumentals, from simple prompts. The technology has also produced viral tracks such as “Heart on My Sleeve”, the AI-generated song mimicking Drake and The Weeknd that gained millions of streams before being removed from major platforms, while other AI-created tracks have continued attracting huge audiences online. Industry forecasts have projected the generative AI music market to grow rapidly in the coming years as more creators experiment with the technology. In gospel music, AI is increasingly being used to produce worship songs, prayer tracks and Christian-themed compositions, raising fresh questions about whether such music should be viewed simply as another creative tool or whether the human faith, emotion and intention behind worship are essential to the experience.
Mixed Reactions Online
Laura’s remarks quickly sparked mixed reactions online, with some users agreeing that AI should not replace the human expression of worship, while others saw nothing wrong with using technology to create gospel music. One commenter simply wrote, “Idolizing it 😅🥂,” while another joked that they do not do “fake stuffs.” However, others pushed back, with one user reminding Christians that the Bible says even “mawe zitamuimbia praise and worship,” while another argued that AI could be likened to the rocks that would praise God if humans refused to. Others urged believers to embrace technological change, arguing that Christians have historically been cautious about new inventions before eventually accepting them. The divided reactions show that the debate is not simply about AI, but about where believers draw the line between using technology as a tool and allowing it to replace the human heart and responsibility behind worship.
