BASSETERRE, St Kitts and Nevis — The St Kitts-Nevis National Carnival Committee (SKNNCC) is introducing limits on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Carnival competitions as it moves to protect the role of local creatives.

For the Soca Monarch and Road March competitions, AI-assisted technology will be permitted, but AI-generated creative content must not account for more than 20% of a song.

Fully AI-generated songs, as well as AI-generated or cloned vocals, will not be permitted.

Similar rules will apply to the Junior and Senior Calypso Monarch competitions. Competitors may use AI as an assistance tool during the creative process, but its contribution to a song’s creative content must remain within the 20 per cent limit.

The SKNNCC said the rules are intended to ensure that songs continue to reflect the creativity of the performers and the contributions of songwriters, producers, arrangers, scorers, musicians and other creatives.

SKNNCC Chair Shannon Hawley said the committee is seeking to balance the use of new technology with the need to protect the people behind Carnival music.

“We are not trying to stop the use of technology. What we want to ensure is that, as AI becomes more widely used, we do not lose the human creativity that makes our Carnival music what it is,” Hawley said.

“Behind every song are people whose talent and contribution we must continue to value. AI can assist the creative process, but it should never replace our creatives.”

The committee said it will engage competitors on the responsible use of AI as preparations continue for Sugar Mas 55.