The Beatles Prove AI Might Benefit Entertainment Industry – If It's Used Right

Summary

• Many artists fear the advances of artificial intelligence.
• The Beatles are the most famous band in world history.
• The band has recently used AI to create a new recording.
• The new song features The Beatles' late members.

For the past few years, AI has been a hot topic around the world. While it has many benefits, people are mostly wary of the dangers the technology brings. In particular, many fear that AI will make most human jobs obsolete, as it's able to perform many types of work in an instant, with little human intervention.

In the entertainment industry, however, these fears take on a different form. With the ability to replicate human voices and appearances, AI can create impersonations of actors and musicians who won't be aware of their digital clones and, most importantly, won't be paid for their 'services.' Perhaps for this reason, a ban on the use of AI was one of SAG-AFTRA's central demands during this year's strike. But the technology can also be used to the benefit of the industry and all its workers.

The Beatles Legacy Has Been Recovered with AI

The 20th century saw many talented musicians, but few left as indelible a mark as The Beatles. Although the British rock band was only active for about a decade in the 1960s and 1970s, they are still considered the most influential musical group of all time. Moreover, many of their songs remain fan favorites that defy geographic and generational boundaries.

Unfortunately, the band was irrevocably broken up after the untimely death of lead singer John Lennon in 1980. Since then, The Beatles have released a number of albums featuring their "left out" compositions, but new music has been beyond possible – especially after George Harrison's passing in 2001. But with the advent of AI, the remaining members of the band – Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – were able to recover Lennon's old unreleased composition and bring it back to life.

Now And Then

Given to the Beatles by John Lennon's wife, Yoko Ono, in 1994, the demo recording was swept under the rug as the band was unable to extract their late frontman's vocals, which overlapped with his piano playing. With AI at their disposal, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Giles Martin were able to extract Lennon's singing and Harrison's guitar solo from earlier recordings to create 'The Last Beatles Song'.

Compiled from pieces recorded over some forty-five years, Now And Then opens with the band's count-in, immediately followed by John Lennon-style piano and acoustic guitar chords. Then comes the late musician's voice, clear and uninhibited, accompanied by McCartney's bass, Starr's drums and their collective backing vocals.

Ultimately, The Beatles' "new" song is a prime example of how artists can use AI to create more art, rather than waging war against the technology.