Brian May criticizes AI utility and data center expansion

Queen guitarist Brian May has publicly criticized the development of artificial intelligence following a failed attempt to use Meta AI to recreate the band’s 1980 album cover, ‘The Game’. May shared the results on Instagram, noting that the AI-generated image incorrectly added a fifth band member and failed to accurately depict the original group members.

Beyond mocking the technical inaccuracies, May used the incident to voice serious political and environmental concerns. He argued that humanity “really does not need AI” and warned of the high cost of this “inevitable” technological advancement. Specifically, May directed a message to British official Andy Burnham, urging him to prevent the construction of massive data centers in the United Kingdom, claiming such facilities threaten to destroy the country’s landscape, similar to what he believes is happening in the United States.