The Beatles' Paul McCartney calls on the UK government to protect musicians from artificial intelligence

Legendary musician Paul McCartney has spoken out against changes to copyright law in the UK that allow tech companies to use online content to train their artificial intelligence models without restriction, unless copyright holders object.

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In an interview with the BBC, McCartney emphasised the need for more protection for musicians and other artists.

"We are the people, and you are the government!" he said. "Your job is to protect us. If you pass a bill, make sure that it protects creative people, artists, or they won't exist."

McCartney does not categorically oppose the use of artificial intelligence to create music. In particular, last year, he used this technology to clean up an old John Lennon demo, creating the so-called "last recording" of the Beatles. The demo version of the song was recorded on a boom box in Lennon's New York apartment, accompanied by a piano. The Beatles wanted to release it earlier, but the quality of the recording did not allow them to do so.

However, he noted that AI (or at least AI with a loose attitude to copyright) poses an economic threat to artists.

"Young guys and girls come in, write great songs, but they don't own them and have no influence on their use. And anyone can just steal them," McCartney said.

Adding that "the money goes somewhere," he stressed that the financial benefits of creating hits should go to the artist, not "some technology corporation."

Source: BBC