While Ringo Starr acknowledges the role AI played in creating what's been called "the last Beatles song," he admits the band remains cautious about the technology's broader implications.
"Now and Then," released in 2023, came to life using AI to extract John Lennon's vocals from a 1977 demo. With George Harrison's 1995 guitar parts and new contributions from Paul McCartney and Starr, the song was finally completed decades after it was first attempted.
The AI system, developed by Peter Jackson for his The Beatles: Get Back documentary series, enabled the band to revisit Lennon's demo with unprecedented precision. Yet, despite its potential, Starr and his bandmates have not been without reservations.
Speaking to Music Week, Starr recalled the Beatles' earlier foray into unfinished Lennon material. "We tried it in the '90s when we got 'Free As A Bird' out," he said. "[B]ut we didn't take much interest because it didn't sound like John, and George got a bit fed up. He didn't want to do a third [1995 single] and so we just put it to bed."
The technology of that time proved inadequate. However, the advancements of recent years have changed everything. "Now they've got better equipment," Starr explained. "They lifted John's voice off a cassette, for God's sake; off a cassette! And it was like John was suddenly in town."
He credited McCartney for steering the project: "I put the drums on and sang on the chorus… He put the strings on and the lead guitar that gave the track its emotion. It worked out really great."
While the Beatles' use of AI in "Now and Then" allowed them to achieve something remarkable, Starr expressed concern about its potential for misuse.
"We're all a bit afraid of it, because it can steal you," he admitted. "Anyone who knows how to use it can steal you. If they just play any five of my songs into the computer, AI gets all of it and knows my every vocal move. They can have me sing anything and it will sound like me, because it's taken from my personality."
His unease reflects a broader anxiety within the music industry, where AI could be exploited to create songs that mimic artists' voices without their consent—or compensation.
Still, Starr acknowledged the technology's positive aspects: "The good side is the way we used it on 'Now and Then.' God knows where it's going to go. We're all worrying about it, but nobody's really stolen anything yet."
For Starr, AI remains both a tool and a threat, offering the chance to preserve legacies while challenging the boundaries of artistic authenticity. As the technology evolves, its impact on music—and musicians—will undoubtedly continue to unfold.
