Get All Access for $5/mo

The Beatles Will Release a 'Final Record' Made With AI, Paul McCartney Says McCartney, one of the two living Beatles members, said during an interview that artificial intelligence was used to include the late John Lennon's voice in a track.

By Madeline Garfinkle

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Harry Durrant | Getty Images
Paul McCartney said the new Beatles song, made with the help of AI, will be released this year.

While some artists are vehemently against the use of artificial intelligence in art, others are leaning into the technology's capabilities to create what otherwise wouldn't be possible.

During an interview with BBC released on Tuesday, Paul McCartney said the "last Beatles record" will be released as soon as this year. While McCartney, 80, along with Ringo Starr, 82, are the only two living Beatles members, the late John Lennon will appear on the new track — thanks to artificial intelligence.

McCartney said an old demo of Lennon's voice was "extricated" and then mixed with the record.

"When we came to make what will be the last Beatles record, it was a demo that John had, that we worked on," McCartney said in the interview. "We were able to take John's voice and get it pure through this A.I., so then we could mix the record, as you would normally do."

Related: 'Biggest Risk of Artificial Intelligence': Microsoft's President Says Deepfakes Are AI's Biggest Problem

McCartney didn't give any hints regarding the title or lyrics of the song, but he did say that it will be "released this year."

As far as the broader implications of the technology, McCartney voiced both excitement and apprehension.

"It's kind of scary but exciting because it's the future," he said. "We'll just have to see where that leads."

Holly Tessler, a senior lecturer on the Beatles at the University of Liverpool, told the New York Times that using the late Lennon's voice for a new track creates an "ethical gray area."

"We have absolutely no way of knowing, creatively, if John were alive, what he'd want to do with these or what he'd want his contribution to be," she said.

Related: A 'Fake Drake' Song Using Generative AI Was Just Pulled From Streaming Services

Madeline Garfinkle

News Writer

Madeline Garfinkle is a News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate from Syracuse University, and received an MFA from Columbia University. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.

Marketing

How Small Businesses Can Leverage Dark Social to Drive Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Dark social accounts for 70% of social media shares and is crucial for small businesses. Here's how you can tap into this hidden marketing opportunity.

Business News

'Jaw-Dropping Performance in 2024,' Says a Senior Analyst as Nvidia Reports Earnings

Nvidia reported its highly-anticipated third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Business News

'Do You Sell Cars?': Tesla CEO Elon Musk Trolls Jaguar Rebrand on X

The team running Jaguar's X account was working hard on social media this week.