Joe Rogan has found a new obsession, and it’s causing some uncomfortable moments on his podcast. The popular host can’t stop raving about AI-generated music, particularly AI covers of 50 Cent songs, which he now claims is his “favorite music.”
On nearly every episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, guests are treated to a mandatory listening session where Rogan plays AI-generated soul versions of hip-hop tracks, often staring intently at his guests to gauge their reactions.
“This is better than the original,” Rogan enthusiastically declares about an AI cover of 50 Cent’s ‘What Up Gangster.’ He’s not just playing 10 or 15-second clips to demonstrate the technology’s capabilities—he’s playing full songs, sometimes multiple tracks in a row, completely absorbed in what he calls “AI slop.”
The ritual has become so predictable that comedian Andrew Schulz knew it was coming before Rogan even brought it up.
What makes Rogan’s AI enthusiasm particularly striking is his willingness to see it replace human creativity in entertainment.
He’s openly discussed how comedian Ron White uses ChatGPT to workshop jokes, and he regularly gives Elon Musk a platform to promote his AI company’s comedy capabilities. Rogan even gushed that if the AI singer were real, “he’d be the number one music artist in the world.”
Yet when actress Katie Sackhoff, clearly concerned about AI’s threat to her profession, mentioned she’d heard AI was making “great podcasts,” Rogan’s tune suddenly changed.
His response was dismissive: “Well, I don’t know about that.” The double standard was glaring. AI replacing musicians and actors is fascinating and impressive, but AI podcasters? That’s where he draws the line.
Rogan’s AI fascination extends beyond music. He frequently falls for AI-generated images and videos, even when they contain obvious tells like six-fingered hands.
When shown an obviously fake AI video of Tim Walz dancing in an elevator, Rogan insisted “it’s real” even as his producer Jamie tried correcting him. He also fell for an AI-generated motivational video featuring UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, which he found so inspiring he wanted to use it as his morning alarm.
The irony is hard to miss. Rogan, who frequently warns about threats to authenticity and human connection, has become one of AI-generated content’s most enthusiastic cheerleaders—at least when it’s not threatening his own industry.
His guests, particularly those in entertainment, often express concern about their livelihoods being automated away. But Rogan remains undeterred, jamming out to AI voices and celebrating technology that could render human artists obsolete.
