Stories
Brian May Demands AI Data Center Halt, Citing "Massive Evil" and Artistic Theft
- •Sir Brian May urged Andy Burnham to stop AI data centers in the UK, calling them a "massive evil" and expressing terror over AI's harm.
- •May canceled a video for his single "My Angels Are Calling" after directors used AI, stating AI would have stolen from artists.
- •He also backed off a Queen immersive show similar to ABBA Voyage due to the unavoidable massive use of AI.
- •May's stance on AI shifted from viewing it as an inevitable Industrial Revolution to believing it must be resisted and its scope limited.
- •He previously asked Andy Burnham to stop AI data centers in August and reiterated his demand for a moratorium, while Burnham has been hesitant to impose a full moratorium, suggesting AI Growth Zones instead.
Key Questions Answered
Brian May cancelled the video that was in production for his single My Angels Are Calling after discovering that the directors had used artificial intelligence. He explained that using AI would have stolen the angels from some human artist, prompting him to scrap the project entirely.
Brian May urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to stop the construction of AI data centres in the UK, describing them as a massive evil that wrecks the countryside and demanding an immediate moratorium. However, Burnham stated during Prime Minister's Questions that he would not go as far as a moratorium at this point.
Brian May initially viewed artificial intelligence as an inevitable development comparable to the Industrial Revolution. Over the past few months, his position shifted significantly; he is now terrified of the immense harm it brings, believes the technology must be resisted and limited, and has halted projects like a Queen immersive show because they rely too heavily on AI.
