Photo/Illutration Visitors during a preview of “Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm” exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London on June 27. The exhibition consists of rare photographs of the Beatles taken by Paul McCartney. (AP Photo)

A seemingly perplexed Paul McCartney commented on social media last week: “Can’t say too much at this stage but to be clear, nothing has been artificially or synthetically created. It’s all real and we all play on it.”

This was in response to a recent controversy concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the production of the “last Beatles record,” scheduled for release before the end of this year.

It was McCartney himself who told the BBC on June 13 that the record had been completed with help from AI, specifically to “extricate” the late John Lennon’s voice from an old demo.

This elicited what could be deemed an overreaction from the public, which in turn fueled speculation about “deepfaking” Lennon’s voice and discussion of its ethical implications.

Popular interest in the Beatles remains strong, even though the members disbanded more than half a century ago.

Their first and only Japan tour was in 1966. They arrived in Tokyo on June 29.

The book “Werukamu Biitoruzu” (Welcome, The Beatles) by Go Sato chronicles their five concerts at the Nippon Budokan arena. For younger people who have seen the Beatles only on film, the book offers some unexpected discoveries.

Police security was at its highest level since 1960, the year of violent student demonstrations against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

The arena had no seats for the audience, and was filled with police officers. Anyone who tried to stand up was immediately told to sit down. The first day was “almost too quiet,” according to Sato’s book.

At the time, the Beatles’ music was said to have received only a low evaluation in Japan. It must have come across as utterly strange to most adults. What the Fab Four brought to Japan must have been an unknown phenomenon, rather than rock music.

Perhaps the way people perceived rock at the time may be likened to how we perceive AI today. McCartney said AI has “a good side to it and then a scary side.”

I look forward eagerly to the new record produced with the latest technology.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 1

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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