OH
MY
GODS.
So much applause. This is probably the best takedown of a decent-but-not-quite-right metaphor I’ve read in my life.
Posted on [August 10, 2026](https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/08/10/why-my-father-is-wrong-a-defense-of-guitar-hero/)
Posted by [Athena Scalzi](https://whatever.scalzi.com/author/athenascalzi/)
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12 Comments](https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/08/10/why-my-father-is-wrong-a-defense-of-guitar-hero/#comments)
My father recently wrote a piece detailing some of his thoughts on AI, and in doing so he compared using generative AI to playing Guitar Hero. I shall not let this analogy stand.
If you think I’m pro-AI, you couldn’t be more wrong. There is no bigger hater of AI in the world than yours truly. So while I disagree with my father’s argument, it isn’t because I like AI, it’s because he slandered Guitar Hero. How could he even compare the two? So few things are even comparable to the absolute plague on humanity that generative AI is, and Guitar Hero should not be included in that list. This extremely well thought out and provocative essay is only for the eyes of those who are ready to rock. So without further ado, please join me in celebrating the true art that is Guitar Hero.
(I will be referencing my father’s post a good bit, and countering specific points he raises, so feel free to refer to his post here.)
Some of you might think I’m being obtuse in contradicting my father’s analogy of *Guitar Hero *does not equal being a guitar player, and using generative AI does not equal creating art. However, I understand the base argument being made here is that *Guitar Hero *does not teach you how to play a real guitar, and that the skills that you get from playing Guitar Hero are not transferrable to the actual instrument.
My father defies his argument with his own wording: “…a non-transferrable skill…”
Skill. *Guitar Hero *requires skill. Therefore, *Guitar Hero *is fundamentally and utterly different than using generative AI. Case closed.
However, I will continue my essay, even though I have already proved my point.
While it is true that *Guitar Hero *does not teach you the skills to be a guitarist, it does involve the skills of rhythm, timing, and hand-eye-coordination. Auditory motor synchronization is a very important thing, you know! Research has proven time and time again how video games, including rhythm games, can create new neural pathways and strengthen your brain, whereas generative AI has proved to do the exact opposite and even actively harm our cognitive functioning, problem-solving, and even memory.
While *Guitar Hero *has no basis claiming to be a tool for learning guitar, it never stated that that’s what it was for at all. No one ever said “play this to become a guitar player.” The point of *Guitar Hero *was never to make you a guitarist. It never boasted claims of doing so, so why are we saying, “well, it doesn’t *make *you a guitar player.” I know that! Everyone who plays the game knows that!
And, if someone claimed that they *were *a guitar player, and then tried to make money by booking gigs as a guitar player, there would be some real consequences and mockery involved. Yet, this is not the same for those who use generative AI. Many businesses and establishments get away with using AI flyers for their events or images, and while some people on Instagram may say boo in the comments, they face no meaningful, real world consequences.
I’d also like to counter my dad’s choice of words in saying, “Like Guitar Hero, AI is fun to play with…” First of all, no it isn’t. Second of all, one is an actual game with the purpose of being entertainment, the other is a water-sucking demon that steals art from real artists.
You don’t sit around your friend’s dorm room procrastinating an essay just to prompt AI to “make art,” you hang out and play games and have fun! And one of those games for me was Guitar Hero 3 for the Wii. The amount of time I spent progressing from easy to expert is not to be understated. My skill actually grew, my ability to play the game well *actually *grew. And I did it with my friends by my side, all of us having *so *much fun. There is no bonding connection like that with generative AI.
As you can tell by my very concentrated face, this was an activity to do together. Be rockin’ together. AI disconnects us from each other and isolates us, not brings us together like Guitar Hero.
(Look at that joyful smile.) *Guitar Hero *was a creative and innovative project made with love by real humans. My dad mentions that Guitar Hero uses actual licensed music and paid actual people and artists to make and design the game. Every aspect of the game is pure human. *Already *this is so much better than *and *has a more positive effect on the world than generative AI, which wrongfully steals art and puts people out of jobs. And makes ugly event flyers!
The fact that *Guitar Hero *had thought and intention and love put into it makes it the polar opposite of generative AI. The fact that people can play it at a party and impress people with their skills (whether you think they’re valuable skills or not) and make them cheer or laugh is such a human connection that generative AI can’t replicate. When someone shows me generative AI “art” I want to Old Yeller myself. Comparatively, like my dad said, “…if you could get through the entirety of “Through the Fire and the Flames” on expert level, you were a friggin’ god.”
Listen, nobody walks around saying they’re a guitar player just because they play Guitar Hero. But people *do *walk around saying they’re artists when they’re not. More importantly, people who played *Guitar Hero *never tried to scam people online and make a profit, whereas there are plenty of people making a profit off low-quality, generated AI images and products that they scam people with.
Using generative AI is bad for the environment. I can’t *really *say the same about *Guitar Hero *(I say it like that because in some capacity, yes the electricity required to play the game, as well as the construction of the console and controller, negatively impact the environment, but it’s just not at the same scale and rapidness that AI data centers are ruining things.) All hail Guitar Hero!
Long story short, *Guitar Hero *was never advertised to people as a learning tool to learn guitar, and those who played never claimed to be guitarists or profit off of it. *Guitar Hero *is a human made form of entertainment meant to be fun with your friends at parties, and no one loses their jobs over it, or their tap water.
Generative AI is bad, and *Guitar Hero *is fucking awesome.
Rock on, bitches.
-AMS
OH
MY
GODS.
So much applause. This is probably the best takedown of a decent-but-not-quite-right metaphor I’ve read in my life.
I’ve never played Guitar Hero (might have tried it once?) but I still love your “take down.” Too many times folks hate something whose sole purpose is to enjoy. It usually takes a type of skill and is fun to those that like it. Does anymore need to be said? We human beings are allowed to have fun and bond with friends in a shared activity. Or heck, alone, like when I game a bit before bed. All hail fun and play! ;-)
Extremely well said.
(Suck it, John!) What’s great to me is that I was nodding in agreement throughout your dad’s essay, and now I find myself nodding in agreement throughout yours.
I think that you’re both right. You’re right about Guitar Hero and that he made a bad analogy. But he was right in the particular points he was making about AI.
As a pretty bad guitar player, I had a bad time trying to learn to play the Guitar Hero series (and Rock Band series) games. I knew how to do chords, but I couldn’t get my head around buttons. Playing video games and muscle memory for playing guitar aren’t the same. It was definitely a skill for both! But like you said, Guitar Hero never ever said anything about the plastic guitars being a real guitar gateway.
However, I will continue my essay, even though I have already proved my point.
Respect the hate
What others might say with irony, I say with conviction – Today is the day Athena finally became President.
What is that on the ground?
A gauntlet?
I wonder if anyone has the nerve to pick it up? Hmmmm.
Nicely done.
While it’s late here & I cannot actually do it, in my head, I am jumping up & down while applauding & yelling, “YESSSSS!” VERY well done, Athena!
Well done, my Queen, well done.