The Beatles have released what they're calling their "last song," titled "Now and Then," featuring vocal tracks of the late John Lennon generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). The track was made possible using AI technology developed by director Peter Jackson during his work on the Beatles documentary "Get Back." The AI tools allowed the team to uncouple Lennon's vocals from the original cassette tape recording of "Now and Then" from the late 1970s. The release has sparked both excitement and debate about the use of AI in music production.
The Beatles released their "last song," titled "Now and Then," featuring vocal tracks of the late John Lennon, with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). The track was unveiled by Universal Music Group, one of the world's prominent music companies, and was accompanied by a short documentary explaining the innovative technology used to create it.
The video documentary outlines how director Peter Jackson developed specialized software while working on his comprehensive Beatles documentary, "Get Back." This software allowed the team to separate Lennon's vocals from the piano part in the original cassette tape recording of "Now and Then," made by Lennon as a demo in the late 1970s. According to Jackson, the technology employed machine learning to split the soundtrack into separate components, making it possible to work with Lennon's vocals.
Giles Martin, the co-producer of the track, explained that AI can be trained to recognize different voices and extract them from complex audio settings. This ability enabled the team to focus on John Lennon's vocals and integrate them into the new track.
Paul McCartney, one of the original Beatles members, expressed his enthusiasm for the use of AI in creating music. After learning about Peter Jackson's new technology, McCartney commented, "We better send John's voice to them off the original cassette." McCartney also noted that experimenting with state-of-the-art technology to work on Beatles music in 2023 was an exciting experience and something the Beatles would have been interested in.
The track "Now and Then" features not only John Lennon but also the two remaining Beatles members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as the late George Harrison. It represents a unique collaboration of technology and artistry to create a fitting tribute to the iconic band.
The release of "Now and Then" with AI-generated vocals has generated both excitement and debate. Fans have praised the track as beautiful and a perfect addition to the Beatles' discography. Some have even expressed hopes that AI technology could enable a Beatles hologram concert for those who never had the opportunity to see the band perform live.
However, the use of AI in music production has also sparked concerns about authenticity. In a recent survey conducted by music studio house Pirate, 53% of musicians expressed concerns about how their audience might perceive music created with AI assistance. A significant portion (58%) of respondents cited "loss of authenticity" as the primary reason for their reluctance to use AI in their music.
The release of "Now and Then" serves as a notable example of how AI is reshaping the music industry, offering innovative possibilities for both artists and listeners while raising questions about the boundaries of authenticity in music creation.
(SAVANNAH FORTIS, COINTELEGRAPH, 2023)