US rapper Will.i.am has called for regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) to protect people without stopping innovation.

In an interview with CNBC, the 49-year-old singer said AI can change the world but warned against using it with greed.

Will.i.am, whose real name is William James Adams Jr., compared data to money, saying people will soon own their own data just like they own cash in banks.

“I’m a big fan of AI, but I’m also careful. We need rules that guide AI without killing innovation,” he said.

The rapper, who launched an AI radio platform RAiDiO.FYI last year, believes data will be highly valuable in the future.

His comments come as the world debates how to regulate AI. Last month, US vice president JD Vance warned that too many rules could slow down the technology’s progress.