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Quicker than Benny Andersson, jokes Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus of AI he uses to write a musical

Abba songwriter Björn Ulvaeus is using AI to write a musical. It’s faster than bandmate Benny Andersson, he quips, but ‘very bad at lyrics’.

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Björn Ulvaeus from Abba has been composing music with the help of AI. Photo: Dave Benett/Getty Images

Abba star and songwriter Björn Ulvaeus says he is getting help from an artificial intelligence (AI) when writing music.

“Right now, I’m writing a musical assisted by AI,” the 80-year-old said at an event in London recently, according to the US industry publication The Hollywood Reporter.

AI is a “great tool”. Ulvaeus said, but admitted it also has its flaws: “A misconception is that AI can write a whole song. It’s lousy at that – very bad. And thank God! It’s very bad at lyrics as well. But it can give you ideas.”

Ulvaeus provided few details about the musical he is working on.

Björn Ulvaeus says writing songs with AI is quicker than working with his bandmate Benny Andersson (above, pictured in 1981). Photo: Getty Images
Björn Ulvaeus says writing songs with AI is quicker than working with his bandmate Benny Andersson (above, pictured in 1981). Photo: Getty Images

When asked how artificial intelligence compares to his Abba partner Benny Andersson, he joked: “It’s quicker and does exactly what you tell it … But it’s not the same thing as having a real songwriting partner.”

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