Elton John has strongly criticized the UK government's plan to let tech companies use music and other creative content to train artificial intelligence without guaranteeing fair compensation for

creators. He accused the government of “committing theft.”

This issue is part of a broader global debate about the ethics and legality of AI systems that generate new content based on existing works.

Under the UK proposal, AI developers could train their models on any material they can legally access, unless the creator specifically opts out. Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants the UK to become a leader in AI development, and this move is seen as part of that push.

However, top artists like Elton John, Paul McCartney, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Ed Sheeran are urging the government to rethink the plan. They argue it would make it even harder for new and independent artists to earn a living.

Speaking to the BBC, John said, “Young artists don’t have the resources to constantly monitor or fight big tech companies. It’s criminal, and I feel deeply betrayed.”

He emphasized that AI lacks the heart and soul that human creators bring to their work. “Machines can’t feel or express passion. Human creators make art to bring joy to others,” he said.

With a career spanning six decades and over 300 million records sold, John has been a longtime supporter of the Labour Party and a vocal advocate for young musicians. He promised to continue fighting against the proposed changes.

The government responded by saying it is still consulting on the issue and will not implement any changes unless it is sure they benefit both creators and AI developers. It also plans to assess the economic impact before moving forward.

The UK has a strong track record in creative industries like theatre, film, publishing, advertising, and music—sectors that employ thousands of people. Photo by Ernst Vikne, Wikimedia commons.