The legendary Queen guitarist Sir Brian May has declared that humanity has no need for artificial intelligence, warning that the cost of its development is far too steep.
In an Instagram post published on Tuesday, the 79-year-old musician raised alarm about the physical infrastructure required to power AI systems, urging that data centres must be blocked from being constructed across Britain.
“We must not allow these hideous data centres to be built in the UK. They will destroy our beautiful country, like they are already destroying beautiful America,” he wrote.
Sir Brian also directed a personal plea to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, stating: “Dear Andy, you must stop it now, before it’s too late.”
Brian May shared his thoughts on AI
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PAHe insisted the price of this “inevitable” technological shift was simply too great.
The post was prompted by Sir Brian’s experiment with Meta’s AI tool, which he asked to reproduce the artwork from Queen’s 1980 record The Game.
Sharing the result with his followers, he was far from impressed by the technology’s output.
“I just had to share this with you guys. I asked Meta AI to show me what the cover of The Game album looked like. This is what it gave me, good job, eh?” he wrote sarcastically.
Sir Brian May declared that humanity has no need for artificial intelligence
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PA“So this is the kind of intelligence that will soon be ruling the world?”
The failed attempt at recreating the iconic album sleeve appeared to crystallise his broader scepticism, leading him to conclude: “Well, great, maybe this is the time to realise we actually don’t need AI.”
Sir Brian’s intervention comes amid a broader debate within the music industry over AI’s role in creative work.
Speaking at the 2026 Ivor Novello Awards in May, 4 Non Blondes vocalist Linda Perry took a markedly different view, encouraging fellow artists to welcome the technology rather than resist it.
“To me, it’s just another tool that has shown up to make people’s life easier in some way,” she said, comparing the panic around AI to early fears about microwaves replacing home cooking.
“If we try to run from the future, then we’re running from solution,” she added.
Dance music producer Nia Archives offered a third perspective at the Mercury Prize launch in July, expressing doubt about AI-generated music’s staying power.
“I don’t know if AI music will last to be honest with you, I think it’s quite like a fleeting technology moment,” she said.
Sir Brian’s career with Queen produced an extraordinary catalogue of hits
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Sir Brian’s career with Queen produced an extraordinary catalogue of hits, with the band achieving six number one singles and 10 chart-topping albums in the UK.
Among their most celebrated tracks are Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, and We Are The Champions.
GB News has approached Meta AI has been for a response to Sir Brian’s remarks.