Doom Composer: 'To Hell with AI'

Australian composer Mick Gordon, known for the soundtracks to *Doom* (2016) and *Doom Eternal*, harshly criticized the use of artificial intelligence in music. In an interview at PAX Australia 2026, he stated, 'To hell with AI.'

Gordon believes that generative neural networks are limited by the data they were trained on. According to him, AI cannot create anything fundamentally new—only averaged versions of what already exists. He cited his own work as an example: guitar riffs made from chainsaw sounds for *Doom* and the use of a Tibetan bone flute in *Killer Instinct*.

The musician is convinced that listeners will always prefer human creativity. 'People will always strive for live interaction,' he emphasized. In his view, the dominance of AI will only strengthen the desire to reduce dependence on digital technologies.

Currently, Gordon is working on soundtracks for *Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2* (release date: October 14) and the cyberpunk shooter *Defect*. Both games are being developed by veterans of *Doom* and *Call of Duty*. In 2027, the composer will perform live for the first time at the RADAR festival in the UK, where he will play music from *Doom* and *Doom Eternal* with a full band.