Amid global discussions about the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) and its important future applications, the Beatles exemplify an ideal approach.

The Beatles notably returned to the Grammy stage, earning nominations for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance with their song “Now and Then.”

Interestingly, the track was refined using AI and will compete with artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Beyoncé, setting the stage for a rather unusual Grammys moment.

From time to time

On November 3, 2023, The Beatles released their final song, “Now and Then.”

Of the group’s four legendary artists, only two remain. Creating their final song wasn’t easy; he had remained aside for almost forty years.

The song was written and performed by John Lennon in the late 1970s.

This was not discovered until 1994, when Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono shared recordings of “Now and Then” as well as two other songs, “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love”, with the surviving members of the group. Paul McCartneyGeorge Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Although the other two songs were released later, the team encountered technical difficulties isolating and separating Lennon’s vocals from the piano.

This was necessary to achieve the clear, cloudless mix required to complete “Now and Then.”

With the help of AI tools, McCartney and Starr finished the song.

AI-enhanced

In an interview with the BBC in June 2023, McCartney revealed that the song was recreated using AI.

In 2021, McCartney and Starr collaborated with director Peter Jackson on a documentary series called “The Beatles: Get Back.”

The award-winning docuseries surprised audiences by restoring old band audio files.

They used MAL audio technology, which production company WingNut Films used to demix the film’s mono soundtrack.

According to a statement by McCartney, this technology allowed them to isolate individual instruments and voices and separate the different voices in the Beatles’ conversations.

In 2022, they asked themselves: “What else can we do with this technology?” » Therefore, they used it to improve the “Now And Then” demo.

The technology improved the clarity of Lennon’s singing by separating it from the piano, helping to preserve the original song.

“It was there, John’s voice, crystal clear. It’s quite moving. And we all play on it, it’s a real Beatles recording. In 2023, still working on Beatles music and being about to release a new song that the public hasn’t heard, I think that’s an exciting thing,” McCartney said at the time.

That same year, McCartney and Starr set out to revive this relic of the past by incorporating Harrison’s 1995 electric and acoustic guitar recordings, adding a new drum part from Starr and bass, guitar and piano from McCartney.

McCartney included a slide guitar solo in Harrison’s honor. Starr and McCartney also added their vocals to the mix.

“It was the closest we’ve ever been to seeing him (Lennon) in the room again, so it was very emotional for all of us. It was like John was there, you know. It’s far away “Starr added.

A play on words at the beginning and end of the group, “Now and Then”, was released in vinyl and cassette form alongside the group’s first song, “Love Me Do”.