In a candid conversation with Leona Graham on Absolute Radio, QUEEN guitarist Brian May has amplified his concerns regarding the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), warning that its unchecked proliferation poses a significant threat to human control and societal well-being. May, a prominent figure in both the music industry and environmental activism, articulated a shift in his perspective on AI, moving from initial dismissal to a urgent call for stringent regulation and limitation. His remarks, transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, shed light on a multifaceted anxiety that extends beyond the realm of technology to encompass environmental degradation and the very definition of human creativity.
A Pivoting Perspective on Artificial Intelligence
Initially viewing AI’s development as an inevitable technological tide, akin to the Industrial Revolution, Brian May has adopted a more proactive stance. "I’ve changed, really," he admitted to Graham. "In the beginning, I thought, ‘Well, this is just like the Industrial Revolution, and it’s pointless to even think about it ’cause it’s gonna come, and we can’t do anything about it.’ I now feel differently. I feel like we have to resist, and we have to limit its scope. We have to control it very, very seriously and very quickly." This evolution in his thinking underscores a growing apprehension about the potential for AI to outpace humanity’s ability to manage its consequences.
May’s concerns are not purely theoretical. He pointed to the immediate and tangible impacts of AI development, particularly the proliferation of data centers. These facilities, often championed by governments for their potential to drive economic growth and attract digital infrastructure, have become a focal point of his criticism. "I hate the business of these data centers coming and destroying our countryside," he stated emphatically. "This is a big threat, in my opinion, and it will only get bigger and bigger and bigger. The more you give, the more they’ll take, and they destroy communities. They destroy the environment. We cannot have this happening in our country. It’s already been destroying communities in America."
Data Centers: An Environmental and Community Threat
The expansion of data centers is a global phenomenon driven by the escalating demand for digital services and the computational power required by AI. These facilities are voracious consumers of electricity and water, raising significant environmental concerns. For instance, a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2022 highlighted that data centers, along with the wider digital ecosystem, accounted for approximately 1.5% of global electricity consumption, a figure projected to rise with the increasing adoption of AI and other data-intensive technologies. This energy demand often leads to increased reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to carbon emissions, unless powered entirely by renewable energy sources, which are not always readily available or scalable to meet the demand.
Furthermore, the water footprint of data centers is substantial, particularly for cooling systems. A study published in the journal Science in 2021 revealed that data centers consume billions of gallons of water annually, a figure that could strain local water resources in water-scarce regions. This ecological strain, coupled with the visual and spatial impact of constructing large industrial facilities in rural or semi-rural areas, has fueled opposition from environmental groups and local communities.
May’s direct appeal to "Andy Burnham [prime minister of the United Kingdom]" – likely a reference to the leader of the UK government, Rishi Sunak, given the timing of the interview and common public discourse – urges immediate action. "So my message to Andy Burnham is please, this is your job now. You have to put a moratorium on these data centers right now before it’s too late." This call for a moratorium reflects a desire to halt the current trajectory of development and reassess the societal and environmental costs.
The Broader Risks of Advanced AI
Beyond the physical footprint of data centers, May articulated a more profound set of risks associated with advanced AI, including the potential for a loss of human control over autonomous systems, the widespread dissemination of misinformation, and the enablement of sophisticated cyberattacks. "AI has a lot more issues than that, but, to me, there are inherent dangers in creating an intelligence which is able to possibly eventually control us. It’s a very real threat."
His description of AI’s current capabilities highlights a critical distinction between imitation and genuine thought. "The funny thing is they don’t think, these AI machines," May observed. "It looks like they’re thinking, but they’re not really thinking – they are copying, they are stealing from everything. And they can give a very good impression of imitating a human being. But they are not a human being." This distinction is crucial; while AI can generate outputs that appear intelligent, it lacks consciousness, intent, or genuine understanding. The danger lies in attributing these human qualities to machines that are, in essence, sophisticated pattern-matching and data-processing systems.
The concern that AI could "reverse the control" is a widely discussed hypothetical scenario in AI safety research. As AI systems become more complex and integrated into critical infrastructure, the risk of unintended consequences or malicious manipulation increases. The rapid integration of AI into everyday tools, such as search engines, further exacerbates the challenge of disengagement. "It’s hard to eliminate it from your life ’cause it’s there already, as it’s snuck in in various ways," May noted. "Like if you’re Googling something, you’re gonna get an AI overview, even if you didn’t ask for it. So it’s very hard to step away from it completely." This pervasive integration means that even passive engagement with technology can expose individuals to AI-generated content or functionalities, blurring the lines between human-curated information and machine-generated responses.
AI and the Future of Creative Industries
The conversation then turned to the implications of AI for the creative arts, a domain where May has a deep and personal stake. When asked about the possibility of a QUEEN performance utilizing digital avatars, akin to ABBA’s "ABBA Voyage" show, May revealed that the band had seriously considered such ventures, particularly after witnessing the immersive capabilities of venues like the Las Vegas Sphere, which hosted THE EAGLES.
"Well, I know what you mean. Yeah, like the ‘ABBA Voyage’ thing. It’s not really a hologram, but it’s an immersive experience, right? Yes, we looked at it very seriously, particularly after I saw the [Las Vegas] Sphere and what THE EAGLES did with the Sphere, which I thought was amazing. And I spent a lot of time planning out what I thought could be a QUEEN show."
However, his enthusiasm has been tempered by the realization that such productions would necessitate extensive use of AI. "I’ve kind of backed off now because you can’t do it without massive use of AI, with all the consequences of that." May expressed ethical reservations about appropriating past performances, even if it involves their own work. "Now, in some ways, I don’t wanna be stealing the work of other people. If you’re stealing your own work, I’m not quite sure where I stand on it, ’cause you would be stealing from the QUEEN oeuvre, you know, which maybe is okay because that’s ours. But at the same time, you’re adding to the stresses that AI is putting on the world. So, I don’t know. I’m not so keen as I was." The idea of a permanent venue where audiences could experience QUEEN in their prime, a concept that was once appealing, is now viewed through the lens of AI’s broader societal impact.
Previous Warnings on AI in Music
This concern about AI’s impact on music is not new for Brian May. In September 2023, he voiced similar apprehensions to Guitar Player magazine, predicting a seismic shift in the industry. "My major concern with it now is in the artistic area," he stated then. "I think by this time next year the landscape will be completely different. We won’t know which way is up. We won’t know what’s been created by AI and what’s been created by humans." He predicted that 2023 might be remembered as the last year humans truly dominated the music scene, a sentiment that "doesn’t fill me with joy. It makes me feel apprehensive, and I’m preparing to feel sad about this."
Regulatory Battles and Artistic Integrity
May’s concerns were further amplified in February 2025 following the U.K. government’s proposal for an "opt-out" scheme for AI training data. This proposed framework would have allowed AI models to be trained on artists’ likenesses and works unless they explicitly opted out, effectively rendering existing copyright laws less impactful for AI development. This approach, which would have placed the onus on creators to protect their intellectual property, drew significant criticism from artists and industry bodies.
May publicly backed the Daily Mail’s campaign against this use of AI, describing the potential implications in stark terms. "This theft has already been performed and is unstoppable, like so many incursions that the monstrously arrogant billionaire owners of AI and social media are making into our lives. The future is already forever changed." He lauded the campaign’s effort to "make the public aware of what is being lost," expressing hope that it could "put a brake on" the unfettered development of AI in creative fields. His ultimate fear is that without significant intervention, the economic viability of creating music could be destroyed: "if not, nobody will be able to afford to make music from here on in."
The debate surrounding AI’s impact on copyright and creative industries is a global one. Organizations like the United States Copyright Office have been actively seeking input on how to address AI-generated works, and various legislative bodies are grappling with the complex legal and ethical questions raised by this technology. The core tension lies between fostering innovation and protecting the rights and livelihoods of human creators.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Deliberation
Brian May’s pronouncements serve as a powerful reminder that the development of advanced AI is not merely a technological advancement but a societal one with far-reaching consequences. His dual focus on the environmental toll of data centers and the existential threat to human creativity underscores a holistic view of the challenges posed by AI. As AI continues its rapid ascent, the calls for critical examination, robust regulation, and a profound re-evaluation of our relationship with technology are growing louder, with voices like May’s resonating with urgency and experience. The path forward requires careful consideration of both the potential benefits and the profound risks, ensuring that technological progress serves humanity rather than undermining it.
