U2 guitarist The Edge recently revealed that he’s been experimenting with AI compositions — though getting an actual, usable U2 track out of it is probably unlikely anytime soon, so he says.
In the latest issue of Record Collector magazine, the musician speaks about the limitations of artificial intelligence in capturing the essence of the band’s music and the way the members “don’t have a genre we can rely on”.
“There’s no such thing as the U2 genre,” says The Edge.
Asked what it might be if there were one, he replies: “Well, I can tell you this. Recently I’ve been experimenting with AI composition, and I promise you there is no way to get AI to make a U2 track. It doesn’t exist!”
AI has undeniably made remarkable strides in music composition over the past few years. Platforms like Suno and Udio allow musicians to generate original compositions by analysing vast datasets of existing music. Much like ChatGPT for music, these tools enable users to create songs with just a simple text prompt — often yielding surprising and, at times, uncanny results, despite the legal minefield they potentially navigate.
That said, The Edge’s scepticism about AI’s ability to produce a U2 track highlights a critical point: While AI can generate music, commenters remark that it lacks the emotional depth and artistry that human musicians bring to their craft.
In other news, U2 have announced the release of How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
Arriving on 29 November, the new album will feature ten unreleased tracks that were recorded during the original sessions for Dismantle.
“What you’re getting on this shadow album is that raw energy of discovery, the visceral impact of the music, a sonic narrative, a moment in time, the exploration and interaction of four musicians playing together in a room,” says The Edge. “This is the pure U2 drop.”
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