'It's been so disturbing to me': Sheryl Crow talks to Jimmy Fallon about AI's use in music amid release of The Beatles' song 'Now And Then'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a recent late-night talk show appearance, music legend Sheryl Crow sat down with Jimmy Fallon to discuss a wide range of topics, including the exciting release of a new track from The Beatles created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
The duo's conversation also delved into Crow's upcoming projects, providing a glimpse into her life as a rock icon and discussing her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honor that deeply resonated with the singer and her family.
She humorously shared her children's reactions to the news, highlighting how the recognition made her significantly cooler in their eyes.
The Beatles' surprising AI-powered musical resurrection
The interview took an unexpected turn as Sheryl Crow and Jimmy Fallon broached the subject of The Beatles, the iconic British band active from 1960 until the members decided to separate in 1974.
With only two of the original four members still surviving, The Beatles recently unveiled a new song titled 'Now and Then'. What makes this release particularly intriguing is the use of artificial intelligence in the song's creation.
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr harnessed the much-talked-about technology to resurrect a sample left behind by the late John Lennon, isolating his vocals and seamlessly weaving them into the song.
The result is the band's supposedly last song, a concept that may leave some music enthusiasts bewildered. However, not everyone is entirely comfortable with the idea of AI playing such a significant role in music creation.
Sheryl Crow's concerns about the use of AI in creating music
Sheryl Crow expressed her reservations about using technology as something of an "instrument" in the creative process, especially considering her upcoming album 'Evolution' which explores the fusion of music and artificial intelligence.
She said, "I wound up with a bunch of songs that I’d written just recently, starting off with 'Evolution', which is a song about AI, speaking about The Beatles."
"And it’s been so disturbing to me, I mean, I don’t know how you musicians feel about it, but I did a session the other day and this young songwriter had this incredible song, but she needed a guy to sing on it so that she could pitch to male singers in Nashville," added Crow.
The singer further stated, "She paid five dollars, put in John Mayer’s name, and she played it for me and my…There’s no way you could tell the difference. It just blew my mind."
The ability of computers to replicate the vocals of well-known artists with such ease raises significant ethical and artistic concerns. In fact, there have been instances of AI-generated songs released under the names of artists without their consent, sparking controversy and legal disputes.
She emphasized, "This is what AI can do, and it really scared me. Only because, for me, art is attached to the soul. When you get into something that is so much more advanced than our brains are at this point, it takes the soul out of it, you know? It's scary."