“It’s unstoppable”: ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus says artists who resist AI are “stupid” and “luddite”Naturally, AI is a topic which divides musicians. Some have strong opinions on its potential negative implications – Gary Numan recently said he believed “it will be the end of mankind” – and others are more keen to embrace it as a useful tool for creativity.
Take ABBA‘s Björn Ulvaeus, for example. In a new interview with Times Radio, he explains that AI is a “great tool that never existed before”, and says that artists who try to resist it are “stupid” and “luddite”.

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Many musicians – and indeed people from a variety of industries – fear AI’s potential to replace humans in certain fields. But Ulvaeus says this fear is unfounded.
“[AI] is in no way a substitute for a songwriting partner,” he says. “No, it’s a tool. But it’s a great tool that never existed before, where you can reference anything in the world of music, and which you can use as a sounding board, and you can try new things on.”
He continues: “For instance, when I’ve written something, maybe eight bars, I can record them with a lyric, and just ask it, where would you take me if you went into this or that realm of music? What would it sound like? Usually it comes back with garbage, but sometimes there is something that might point me in a new direction.
“I can get in touch with my AI at any time. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I can try new things. Whenever you feel like it, whenever you have an idea, you can try it out with your AI partner.”
When interviewer Jane Mulkerrins notes musicians including Elton John who are rallying against AI in creative industries, Björn Ulvaeus adds: “If they try to block it, it’s stupid. It’s luddite.”
“There’s no point trying to do that, because it’s unstoppable,” he concludes.
Despite being founded in the early ‘70s – and officially hanging up their boots in 2022 – ABBA are no strangers to embracing new and emerging technology. The Swedish band were one of the first acts to create a large-scale high-profile virtual concert experience using holograms with their now-massive Voyage shows.
A chief area of concern regarding AI in music is that surrounding proper licensing, attribution and remuneration. 
Recently, Suno and Udio – two of the biggest AI music generators – were sued on behalf of ““independent artists whose rights have been trampled the most”.
The lawsuits – filed by country musician Tony Justice and his 5th Wheel Records label – argued that “independent artists, Plaintiffs, and Class Members will never be able to claw back the intellectual property unlawfully copied” by the companies, and alleged that these platforms “undermine the existing streams of revenue, including licensing markets, for independent music, which the Copyright Office itself recognised as valid and protectable under copyright law.”
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