Photo by ThisIsEngineering
As artificial intelligence continues to transform how music is made, its wider impact on the industry’s cultural rituals is coming into focus. For will.i.am, a long-time advocate of AI in creative spaces, that shift may soon extend to awards shows themselves. Speaking on the red carpet at the 2026 Grammy Awards, the Black Eyed Peas artist suggested the ceremony could be among the last to feature only humans in its most visible spaces.
In an interview with The Associated Press, will.i.am said his attendance this year carried a sense of urgency. “The reason why I’m here at the red carpet at the Grammys 2026 is because I predict that this is probably one of the last years where it’s only humans on the red carpet,” he explained.
He likened the coming change to the rise of autonomous vehicles, noting how technologies once considered futuristic have quickly become part of everyday life. In his view, AI agents and robots will soon appear in cultural settings, including awards ceremonies, representing creative work and engaging directly with the media.
“There will be level-five artistry,” he said, predicting that intelligent agents could arrive on red carpets before the end of the decade, capable of discussing projects and achievements much like human artists do today.
While the idea may sound outlandish or unsettling, it reflects a position will.i.am has consistently maintained. He has compared AI music to sampling, arguing that algorithms are themselves a form of creative expression, built by developers whose work should be acknowledged and fairly compensated.
Whether or not robots ever take their place under the Grammys lights, his comments highlight the growing tension between technological innovation and the human traditions that have long defined the music industry.
