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Sir Brian May has urged Andy Burnham to block AI “before it’s too late” and dubbed data centres “a massive evil” that “have to be fought”.
The British guitarist, 79, revealed that he designed a Queen immersive experience, similar to ABBA’s virtual concert ABBA Voyage, but wouldn’t move forward with the show until it was possible without AI.
“I have serious misgivings about that,” the musician told The Times.
“We all like AI. It helps us write emails. It’s even saved a few lives. But the harm it is bringing to the world is immense,” he said.
May shared that he’d even nixed a video for his recent song “My Angels Are Calling” after its directors admitted they’d used AI to create it.
“AI would have stolen the angels from some artist, so they had to go,” the guitarist said of his choice to shut down the video.
“We’re facing a moral dilemma: you can’t hide from this thing, but it’s turning us into a very different civilisation and personally I’m terrified. These tech billionaires do not have our interests at heart.”
Last month, the government rejected calls for a so-called “kill switch” to protect against an attack from rogue artificial intelligence.
The position came amid escalating alarms over technological risks, including warnings from experts that the technology could wipe out humanity within the decade.
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There are more than 100 data centres in varying stages of development across the UK and over 500 already established. In a report submitted to parliament by Water UK earlier this year, it was estimated these facilities use the equivalent water used by 20,000 average homes.
Burnham said he wants the UK to lead the world in developing a set of rules to prevent the spread of rogue artificial intelligence (AI), putting him on a collision course with US President Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister has told world leaders that he wants the UK to act as an “honest broker” to draw up “a single set of global principles and standards” for the development of frontier AI.
Although Burnham acknowledged AI would be a source of disruption to jobs and said warnings from industry insiders about the technology’s existential risk to humanity must be heeded, he also highlighted potential for healthcare, education, defence and economic development.
“I know how worried people are. So we have to rise to this moment,” the Prime Minister said.
With Queen, May had six UK number one singles and 10 UK number one albums. Some of the band’s best-known songs include “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Killer Queen”, and “We Are The Champions”.