Brian May halts Queen digital avatar show due to AI concerns

Queen guitarist Brian May has revealed that he halted plans for a digital avatar live show, similar to ABBA’s ‘Voyage’ residency, due to ethical and practical concerns regarding artificial intelligence.

In an interview with Absolute Radio, May explained that while he was inspired by immersive experiences like the Sphere in Las Vegas, the heavy reliance on AI required to execute such a concept caused him to back off. He expressed moral hesitation regarding the use of AI, noting, “I don't wanna be stealing the work of other people,” while questioning the ethics of using the band’s own catalogue in such a manner.

Beyond the performance aspect, May voiced strong opposition to the rapid expansion of AI and its physical infrastructure. He called for stricter controls on the technology to prevent the loss of human oversight and warned against the environmental and community impact of data centers. Specifically, he urged UK leadership to consider a moratorium on data center construction to protect the countryside and local communities from the perceived threats posed by these facilities.