ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus is composing a new musical with AI assistance

Björn Ulvaeus has revealed he is using artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with the creation of a new musical.

Ulvaeus, best known as a quarter of the seminal music group ABBA (as well as the composer of shows like Chess and Kristina från Duvemåla, discussed his new project at SXSW in London today.

Enthusiastic about the partnership with an AI to further his creative endeavours, the “Dancing Queen” co-composer said: “It’s fantastic. It is such a great tool… It is like having another songwriter in the room with a huge reference frame. It is really an extension of your mind. You have access to things that you didn’t think of before.”

At the same time, there were limitations to the tool’s functionality, with Ulvaeus adding: “You can prompt a lyric you have written about something, and you’re stuck maybe, and you want this song to be in a certain style… You can ask it, how would you extend? Where would you go from here? It usually comes out with garbage, but sometimes there is something in it that gives you another idea.”

The comments come during a turbulent time for the use of AI, with legislation currently bouncing between the House of Commons and House of Lords to try and provide greater protections for artists and writers in a time when their work is being readily consumed by generative AI models.

Last week, it was confirmed that Chess would be back on Broadway with a starry set of leads.