Paul McCartney calls on UK government to protect artists from AI

In Brief

Legendary musician Paul McCartney is warning against proposed changes to UK copyright law that would allow tech companies to freely train their models on online content unless the copyright holders actively opt out.

In excerpts of an interview with the BBC, McCartney said the government needs to do more to protect musicians and other artists.

“We’re the people, you’re the government!” he said. “You’re supposed to protect us. That’s your job. So if you’re putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not going to have them.”

McCartney isn’t necessarily opposed to the use of AI in creating music — indeed, he took advantage of the technology last year to clean up an old John Lennon demo and create what McCartney called “the last Beatles record.” However, he suggested that AI (or at least AI with a loose approach to copyright) poses an economic threat to artists.

“You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it, and they don’t have anything to do with it, and anyone who wants can just rip it off,” McCartney said.

Adding that “the money’s going somewhere,” he said the financial rewards for creating a hit song should go to the artist, not just “some tech giant somewhere.”

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