The Beatles are set to release their final song more than four decades after it was first written with the help of AI technology.

Sir Paul McCartney told the BBC that AI had been used to “extricate” John Lennon’s vocals from an old cassette.

In a statement on their website, the band said the song is called “Now and Then” and is based on a demo recording made by Lennon in the 1970s. It was completed by McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr last year.

The band said Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono had given them a cassette tape in 1994, which contained demo recordings of the song along with “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love”.

These were completed and released as singles, however technological limitations prevented Lennon’s vocals and piano from being separated clearly enough to mix and finish “Now and Then”.

Commenting on the news, McCartney said: “There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear. It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.”

Starr added: “It was the closest we’ll ever come to having him back in the room, so it was very emotional for all of us. It was like John was there, you know. It’s far out.”

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