ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus is making a new musical using AI and has hailed the divisive technology “an extension of your mind”.
Ulvaeus, 80, was one of 10,500 signatories from creative industries warning artificial intelligence companies that unlicensed use of their work is a “major, unjust threat” to artists’ livelihoods.
Although Ulvaeus is against his work being used without his consent – that doesn’t mean he isn’t a fan of the technology, going as far as to call it a songwriting partner.
Speaking at London’s inaugural SXSW, he said: “It is such a great tool. It is like having another songwriter in the room with a huge reference frame.
“It is really an extension of your mind. You have access to things that you didn’t think of before.”
Explaining how he utilises AI, the Swedish pop veteran added: “You can prompt a lyric you have written about something, and you’re stuck maybe, and you want this song to be in a certain style. “You can ask it, How would you extend? Where would you go from here? It usually comes out with garbage, but sometimes there is something in it that gives you another idea.”
Ulvaeus previously warned that AI must not “exclude the human”.
