Jimmy Page and Brian May Urge Action Against AI’s Threat to Art
Rock icons Jimmy Page and Brian May have joined a chorus of musicians expressing deep concerns over the potential for artificial intelligence to undermine the future of art. They warn that AI could not only financially damage artists but also erode the very essence of artistic creation.
May has actively supported the Daily Mail’s campaign against a U.K. Labour Party proposal regarding AI and copyright. The proposal would allow tech companies to utilize existing copyrighted material to train AI models unless rights holders explicitly opt out. Page, while not directly referencing any specific campaign, shared a heartfelt statement on Facebook, emphasizing the need to “defend the sanctity of human creativity against the encroachment of AI.” He believes this is crucial to “safeguard not just the rights of artists, but the very soul of our cultural heritage.”
May Highlights Copyright Concerns
May expressed fears that the fight against AI’s impact might already be too late. He worries that tech companies are steamrolling copyright laws and exploiting artists. “My fear is that it’s already too late – this theft has already been performed and is unstoppable,” he said, adding that AI and social media moguls are relentlessly intruding into our lives. He also commended efforts to raise public awareness of these issues as he believes awareness may serve as a needed brake on the problem, because, “if not, nobody will be able to afford to make music from here on in.”
Page Reflects on Artistic Authenticity
Page, drawing from his own experiences, described his early work as a session musician as a “crucible of creativity, collaboration, and ceaseless inspiration.” He noted that he was required to quickly generate riffs and lyrical ideas during recording sessions. He contrasted this early artistic development with his later success with Led Zeppelin: “This journey from the anonymity of session work to the global stages with Led Zeppelin was not a path paved by algorithms or data sets. It was a voyage marked by spontaneous improvisation and the unquantifiable spark of human ingenuity.” He emphasized that the band’s unique sound was achieved via, “the alchemy that transformed a unique riff into an anthem… a synergy that no machine can emulate.”
Page views AI-generated art as “hollow echoes,” lacking the struggle, triumphs, and soul of genuine artistry. “When AI scrapes the vast tapestry of human creativity to generate content, it often does so without consent, attribution, or compensation. This is not innovation; it’s exploitation,” Page said. He compared this practice to theft and advocated for policies to protect artists and their work, championing the “human touch in art — the imperfections, the emotions, the stories behind every note and cadence.”
McCartney and Others Speak Out
Page and May’s concerns echo those of other prominent musicians such as Paul McCartney and Bon Jovi. In an earlier interview, McCartney criticized the U.K. government’s AI proposals and urged them to protect artists. In a similar vein, over 200 artists signed a letter from the Artist Rights Alliance, denouncing AI developers’ approach to music use. These artists warned that current training models constitute an “assault on human creativity” and will devalue creative work.
