Dr. Martin Clancy

Dr. Martin Clancy is an AI ethics researcher, music industry veteran, and founder of AI:OK, a global initiative dedicated to building trust and transparency in the use of AI across the creative industries. He is a Policy Fellow at Trinity College Dublin’s Long Room Hub and a Senior AI Research Fellow with the Insight Research Centre at Dublin City University.

Martin’s career bridges music, technology, and policy. As a musician, songwriter, and producer, he has toured globally, managed artists, and produced chart-topping records, giving him first-hand experience of the opportunities and vulnerabilities faced by creators. This perspective underpins his academic work on the impact of AI in creative ecosystems.

His book Artificial Intelligence and the Music Ecosystem (Routledge, 2022) is among the first comprehensive studies of the ethical, economic, and cultural implications of AI for music. A fully updated edition, Artificial Intelligence and Music Ecosystems 2.0 (Routledge, 2025), includes contributions from Jacques Attali, Holly Herndon, Miller Puckette, Scott Cohen, and other leading voices across law, technology, and the arts.

Through AI:OK, Martin has established a Trustmark and Certification Framework for AI in music and convened the AI:OK Council, which includes the RIAA, NMPA, A2IM, the Recording Academy, and the Artist Rights Alliance. He has also launched the AI:OK Literacy Module, designed to help artists and institutions worldwide understand and navigate AI responsibly. He has advised governments, trade bodies, and intergovernmental organisations such as WIPO on policy and standards. He is engaged in Horizon Europe consortia developing new approaches to AI governance in culture and media.

In addition, Martin is a Certified Ableton 12 Trainer and serves on the Advisory Board of the CreateMe Centre at the University of Agder, Norway, where he contributes to shaping international research on AI and music innovation.

He has delivered keynotes and lectures at events including Reeperbahn Festival, SoAlive Music Conference, International Music Business Days, CEIPI, and Wise Conference, as well as at universities across Europe, Africa, and the US. His presentations combine historical insight, ethical analysis, and personal storytelling to make complex technological issues accessible to diverse audiences.

At the core of his work is one principle: AI must serve human creativity, not replace it.