CEOs, AI...we all know they champion the stuff, but it's particularly disheartening when the head of one of the world's most iconic guitar companies praises artificial intelligence. In a new interview with T3, Fender's Chief Executive Officer Edward "Bud" Cole expressed his belief that AI "is actually going to help create a whole new world of guitar players that use it," and "help [them] be more productive."

Cole also stated that "cover music has been sort of 'analogue AI' for a long time," not realizing that human learning of existing music, and the acquisition of talent and know-how therein, aren't analogous to feeding a song into the latest artificial intelligence engine of choice.

Blood, sweat, and tears – either metaphorical or literal – are key components to the satisfaction of playing music, producing it, and developing skills on one's favorite instrument. Cole's insistence that these experiences should be streamlined and optimized is, well, right in line with Fender's recent penchant for cease-and-desisting every luthier under the sun for alleged infringing on the body shape of the Stratocaster – ridiculous.