The missing conversation: AI’s unchecked rise and CARIFESTA’s silent stage

A year before CARIFESTA XV, I experimented with Artificial Intelligence by creating a Soca song generated entirely from a simple prompt. In less than a minute, the algorithm had composed lyrics, laid down a riddim section, and even added vocal melodies that could have come from any fete. The experience was both exhilarating and unsettling—here was technology capable of replicating one of our most distinctive cultural expressions with just a few keystrokes.

 

With that experiment fresh in my mind, I watched CARIFESTA XV unfold across Barbados with particular interest. Now that the Caribbean’s biggest cultural extravaganza has concluded, many rum shops, businesses, and community gatherings will no doubt share their perspectives on the island’s hosting. Whether it was a success will ultimately be a matter of personal opinion, but I can only hope that participants and stakeholders felt their time and resources were well invested.

 

From my perspective as a technologist—one who has already seen firsthand how AI can replicate artistic output—the experience was a mixed bag. Some applications of technology showed real foresight, such as the live streaming of cultural talks and major ceremonies. As a CARICOM regional event with several islands represented, live streaming played a critical role in allowing audiences across the region to feel connected to the celebrations and take part in the experience, even from afar. Other uses were more understated yet impactful, like the integration of stage lighting, drone footage, and expansive LCDs. These not only enhanced the spectacle but also added depth to performances, visually reinforcing themes and creating immersive atmospheres that supported the artists on stage.

 

One of the most striking examples, however, emerged in a quieter setting during the Banking on Culture: Data, Policy and Finance Symposium at the Hilton on August 28. Here, digital screen technology was integrated into the stage furniture itself, displaying the names of speakers on the couches where they sat—an unexpected but thoughtful touch that modernised the setup. Coupled with engaging presenters and the use of tools like Mentimeter, an interactive platform that allows audiences to scan a QR code and participate in live polls or Q&A sessions, the symposium demonstrated how even traditional formats can be elevated by well-applied digital solutions.

 

Unless I’m mistaken, the Banking on Culture: Data, Policy and Finance Symposium was the only event on the CARIFESTA calendar that might have catered to a discussion on the role of technology and its future impact on culture. Unfortunately, that subject was never directly addressed—even though no other factor is reshaping culture and the arts more profoundly than technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence. Given that CARIFESTA is held only once every two years, one can only imagine how much further technology will disrupt traditional approaches and outputs in the cultural space by the time the festival returns.

 

It felt like a missed opportunity, especially when one creative in the audience asked how artists like themselves could combat AI. That concern is not theirs alone; it echoes across an entire generation of emerging artists who are beginning to wonder what the future holds if machines can produce art with nothing more than a simple command.

 

At the time of this writing, there is still no official word or policy on how CARICOM intends to integrate Artificial Intelligence into the regional ecosystem. To borrow a phrase from the patron of CARIFESTA XV, Prime Minister Mia Mottley: “It’s best tek out-front before out-front tek you.”

 

Yet, the region seems to be doing the opposite—allowing AI to advance unchecked, without even opening a serious conversation with who will be most affected: the cultural practitioners themselves.

 

Meanwhile, AI is already reshaping the very disciplines that form the backbone of festivals like CARIFESTA—music, dance, visual arts, and theatre. In music, it has evolved from a studio aid into a creative collaborator, capable of composing original pieces, generating beats, and even imitating the styles of iconic performers. Musicians are embracing AI to push sonic boundaries, while distribution platforms use it to personalise and amplify their reach.

 

Dance is also beginning to feel AI’s influence. Motion-capture and choreography software can now analyse movement and generate entirely new routines, while performance spaces are experimenting with interactive visuals that respond in real time to dancers’ motion—merging human artistry with machine-driven spectacle.

 

The visual arts may be where AI’s disruptive power is most evident. From early sketches to fully realized paintings and films, AI-generated images and full motion video with related sound are challenging our notions of originality, authorship, and ownership. Many artists are adopting these tools as collaborators, even as they grapple with the ethical dilemmas they raise.

 

Even theatre and drama are not untouched. AI is being used to draft scripts, simulate stage lighting, design immersive sets, and even create virtual performers. While it is unlikely to replace actors, it is broadening the possibilities of storytelling, offering directors and audiences new ways to experience performance.

 

If there were room on the CARIFESTA calendar for a single additional event, it should have been one that squarely confronted the intersection of culture, technology, and governance. A one-day Innovation Forum could have brought together policymakers, artists, and digital practitioners to explore how Artificial Intelligence, social media, and government policy are reshaping the region’s cultural landscape. The morning would set the stage with a keynote on AI and the Arts followed by a policy dialogue between CARICOM officials, legal experts, and cultural stakeholders. The goal would be to begin charting a regional roadmap for copyright, digital intellectual property, and the integration of AI into cultural policy.

 

The afternoon could shift focus to the creative frontlines. Live demonstrations would show how AI is already composing music, generating visual art, and enhancing performance through digital staging. Workshops on social media monetisation and digital literacy would give young creatives practical tools to grow audiences, protect their work, and guard against risks like deepfakes and misinformation. A closing roundtable would bring youth voices, artists, and policymakers together to outline commitments for the future, capped by a performance that blends traditional Caribbean expression with AI-driven visuals. Such an event would not only give CARIFESTA participants a glimpse into the cultural future but also ensure that the region is setting its own agenda, rather than waiting for external forces to dictate it.

 

CARIFESTA XV showed that technology has already become part of the cultural fabric, from live streaming to digital stagecraft. Yet the absence of meaningful dialogue on Artificial Intelligence was glaring. If the festival is to remain relevant in shaping regional identity, it cannot afford to treat technology as just spectacle. The Caribbean must start charting policies and pathways now, because by the time CARIFESTA XVI arrives, AI will not just be influencing the arts—it will be redefining them.

 

steven@dataprivacy.bb