The last Beatles song, restored using AI, will be awarded a Grammy

The Beatles have been nominated for two Grammys – nearly 50 years after the band officially broke up. Their last single, called “Now and Then,” was restored last year with the help of AI, and is now making history alongside the likes of Beyoncé, Charlie XCX, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. It was also nominated for best rock performance, competing against Green Day, Pearl Jam, and The Black Keys.

However, “Now and Then” was never released, as the technology at the time could not separate John’s vocals from the piano for a clear sound. But in 2021, filmmaker Peter Jackson and his sound team were able to separate the instruments from the vocals using machine learning technology, allowing Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to finally finish the song.

Although “Now and Then” was completed using machine learning, it still falls within the boundaries of Grammy rules surrounding AI. The guidelines currently state that “only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration, nomination, or to win a GRAMMY Award,” but work that contains “elements” of AI elements is “eligible for active categories.”

It’s surprising to see “Now and Then” compete against contemporary music like Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” but it’s been a long time coming. We’ll see how The Beatles fare during the 2025 Grammy Awards, which will take place on Sunday, February 2.