ABBA Member Embraces Artificial Intelligence

Renowned Swedish musician Björn Ulvaeus, former member of the legendary and now-disbanded group ABBA, has taken an innovative step in his creative process by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the composition of his latest musical theater project.

The announcement came during his recent appearance at SXSW London, in a talk that also sparked conversations on the role of machines in art and creativity.

Ulvaeus revealed that he is currently developing a musical using cutting-edge technologies, integrating AI as a collaborator in the artistic process. He described the technology as “another composer in the room,” enabling him to explore musical ideas and directions that previously might not have been possible.

He noted that AI helps to unlock his creativity and overcome writer’s block, while emphasizing that it does not replace human intervention in artistic creation. For Ulvaeus, AI is a powerful tool, but one that should be seen as a complement—not a substitute—for human sensitivity and intuition.

“AI Doesn’t Replace Human Emotion”

Throughout the talk, the composer stressed that AI cannot write a complete song or create quality lyrics on its own. “It’s terrible at that,” he said with a laugh, making clear that its role is to spark ideas and offer new perspectives, not to take over the entire creative process.

On this point, Rolling Stone magazine noted that Ulvaeus’s approach reflects an ethical commitment to innovation, arguing that technology does not replace artists—it accompanies and enriches them.

Ulvaeus maintains that collaboration between humans and machines can open new horizons in music by merging artistic sensitivity with the possibilities of AI—a creative process that raises important questions about the future of art in an era increasingly shaped by technology.

Artificial intelligence is, in his view, a “fantastic tool,” and when used responsibly, it could revolutionize the way music is created and experienced in the 21st century, Ulvaeus concluded.