Beatles musician Paul McCartney has warned that artificial intelligence could be used to "rip off" artists, urging the British government to make sure upcoming copyright reforms protect its creative industries.

"Somebody's getting paid, so why shouldn't it be the guy who sat down and wrote 'Yesterday'?" the former Beatle said.

Paul McCartney has urged the British government not to make a change to copyright laws that he says could let artificial intelligence companies rip off artists