Entertainer Jason Derulo is forging a deeper connection with will.i.am that extends beyond their shared passion for music.
The pair are working together on the technology front, in alignment with their individual ambitions within the space over the years. Derulo has made several investments in the tech space. He participated in a funding round for Moonpay — a fintech company that allows users to quickly buy and sell cryptocurrency — which amounted to $87 million in 2022, along with other investors such as Brent Faiyaz, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk, its website lists. Derulo also joined a $40 million funding round for Christian app Glorify in 2021, according to a news release, and is an investor in blockchain-enabled music platform Audius.
Derulo is an advocate for artificial intelligence (AI) within artistry as well. He sees it as a helpful tool.
“When it is good enough, I will embrace it because I just feel like with my wealth of knowledge of music I can utilize different tools to make the music that much better or just have more ideas. I think you have to utilize it just like everybody else utilizes it, as a tool to progress,” Derulo said during an interview on “Sky News.”
He also mentioned, “I mean we all go to Google to figure out something that we don’t know. Just for writing a song, if I’m having a day where I kind of have a vibe and I know what I want to write about, I can type in my vibe and then maybe AI will give me, you know, six different options of something cool, and then I work with that option, you know, just utilizing it as a tool not as a crutch. If you’re able to do that, I think music will still have its integrity.”
Derulo will now have a chance to further his interests in AI and technology. It was announced during a CES press event, he was appointed to ambassador and intelligent media leader for FYI.AI, a product that allows users to input prompts that will generate drafted stories, song lyrics, marketing copy, and product descriptions. He will also join the RAiDiO.FYI team. Both ventures were created by innovator and musician will.i.am, who has been forging his own path in the sector, including being an early investor in Beats Electronics before its $3 billion Apple acquisition as well as OpenAI.
Their collaboration comes full circle as Derulo was once an opening act for the Black Eyed Peas on their “The END World Tour” in 2009-2010.
Will.i.am and Derulo will reimagine new ways to further disrupt the AI space to benefit entrepreneurs and other users. This will also include monetization for creative collaborators that integrate AI. Derulo’s direct tasks will include, but are not limited to, aiding with developing growth strategies, creating project designs, testing new tools, and creating architecture for RAiDiO.FYI.
“Jason’s passion about AI, his enthusiasm and optimism about the intersection of technology and creativity, entrepreneurial skills, and community reach make him a fantastic addition to the FYI team to help shape our creative strategy going forward,” will.i.am expressed in a press release shared with AFROTECH™.
Derulo commented:
“I’ve been exploring the tech world for a while now, from investing in innovative platforms to experimenting with cutting-edge AI for my music and entertainment projects. This deal with FYI builds on my existing passion for combining technology and creativity in new ways. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and I’m excited for what we will achieve.”
