Yngwie Malmsteen expressed confidence that audiences will always prefer the human connection of live performance over artificial intelligence, telling Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk that people won’t pay to watch robots play.
Malmsteen discussed whether AI could eventually take the place of live rock and roll performances. He acknowledged that AI might serve as a temporary trend but maintained that the desire for real human musicians on stage will endure.
“Yes and no,” Malmsteen said. “I think that it could be a temporary trick almost. But I think ultimately — think about this — people are not gonna go to an arena and buy tickets to watch a robot play. I don’t think so. I think people still want to have some sort of human interaction.”
“But I could be wrong. Hopefully not. I don’t think that it’s gonna replace it. It could be adding a lot of things that are fake, but we’ll see. But at the same time, even with all the trends coming back and forth, going out and in and stuff like that, it’s always gonna be an urge for that rock and roll, or whatever you wanna call it, impact of some real people playing. I’m pretty sure of that. But I could be wrong, I guess.”
Malmsteen then addressed AI’s wider applications and potential risks. While he does not use AI himself, he said he understands its purpose in certain professional fields.
“I’m not really using [A.I.] for anything, but I kind of know what it is. I think A.I. is probably a good tool in certain things, like in legal matters and whatever, where you just wanna have a lot of information. But I think that if it gets into wrong hands, it could be also bad.”
He emphasized that technology itself is neutral, and the key concern lies in how it is used. “I think technology’s not bad on its own. I think technology could be used for a bad purpose, but I don’t think it itself is bad.”
Malmsteen shared these thoughts during a conversation about artificial intelligence and its impact on live music and society. His comments reflect his belief that the unique appeal of live rock and roll lies in the human element that no technology can replicate.
Malmsteen’s emphasis on live performance and human connection comes as he maintains an active touring schedule. The guitarist performed in European and UK stops filling June and July 2026, followed by an Asian leg in September, and a North American tour stretching through October and November 2026. This schedule underscores his commitment to bringing rock and roll directly to audiences night after night.
The guitarist also has new music on the way. Malmsteen announced a new album titled Hell or High Water, due out November 13 via Music Theories Recordings / Artone Label Group. The album marks the follow-up to his 2021 studio album Parabellum and his 2025 live release Tokyo Live. The record contains nine songs plus one bonus track and runs exactly 46 minutes in an overall neoclassical character.
The album holds personal significance for Malmsteen. It features a closing track titled “Father,” written in honor of his dad, who passed away in 2025. The release represents both a continuation of his prolific output and a tribute to his family.
