Cheyenne Suarez

Ben&Ben's Guico twins speak out on corruption, AI's impact on music

Article (news)

Raine Musñgi

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- From calling out corruption to confronting the rise of artificial intelligence in music, Ben&amp;Ben’s Paolo and Miguel Benjamin Guico are drawing a clear line between civic responsibility and creative survival in a rapidly changing world.In a wide-ranging interview on ANC’s &quot;Beyond the Exchange&quot; with Rico Hizon, the twin brothers behind one of the Philippines’ most streamed bands spoke about everything from governance and public accountability to the future of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) in the age of AI.<div>‘The fight is not over yet’</div>On national issues, the duo did not hold back, echoing growing public frustration over corruption allegations tied to infrastructure spending and flood-control projects flagged in government audits.For Paolo, the issue is not just about controversy, but accountability.“Filipino people have to speak out… No one has been jailed from among those who should be jailed. And therefore, the fight is not over yet in terms of holding those accountable and demanding for justice,” he said.  <div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k1g_OC6T4ts?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>Government reviews and audit findings in recent years have repeatedly flagged irregularities in flood-control and infrastructure programs, fueling public outrage and renewed calls for transparency and prosecution.Miguel said while there has been growing civic engagement, the momentum must continue.“There was a big progress in really coming together to voice out and people really waking up… visible, tangible, measurable progress,” he said.  But he acknowledged that systemic reform will take time.“These problems are probably, if not older, as old as our institutions themselves… it’s more of a marathon than a sprint,” Miguel added. The band also addressed criticism they have faced for their political views, particularly after publicly supporting a candidate in the 2022 elections. Miguel said their approach remains grounded in restraint.“We cannot please everyone… Stand up for what you believe in while respecting other perspectives,” he said. Despite the backlash, Paolo stressed that music remains one of the most powerful tools for social reflection.“Nothing is still more powerful than music… it has a very strong unifying power,” he said.<div>‘AI is one of the top challenges’ for musicians</div>While the band continues to speak on national issues, they are also confronting another fast-emerging disruption: artificial intelligence.For Paolo, the shift is unprecedented.“AI is one of the top challenges. We&#x27;ve never been in this place before,” he said. Miguel pointed to the growing realism of AI-generated content, particularly music covers that can closely mimic real voices.“The AI covers… they sound so genuine. It’s such a peculiar thing,” he said.The comments reflect a broader global concern among musicians and rights groups over AI-generated music.Industry experts have raised warnings about the use of copyrighted songs in AI training datasets without consent or compensation, as well as the rise of voice cloning and deepfake audio that can replicate an artist’s identity. There are also concerns about market saturation, as AI lowers the cost of producing music at scale, potentially flooding streaming platforms and devaluing human-made work.Transparency is another growing issue, with many AI systems not disclosing training sources, making it difficult for artists to know if their work has been used.For Ben&amp;Ben, the response is clear: protect the human core of music.“We’re slowly figuring out how to combat, navigate, and really stand up for the human aspect of music,” Miguel said. At the same time, the band remains committed to original, fully human-created work.“Everything is original from beginning until the end,” Paolo said. <div>Balancing fame, family, and the future</div>Beyond politics and technology, the interview also revealed a more personal shift in their lives.Both Paolo and Miguel are engineering graduates from De La Salle University, a path influenced by their father. But music, they said, eventually “found its way back” as a calling after years of detours, competitions like PhilPop, and early musical experiments in high school.Today, their partnership is built on what they describe as three core values: respect, persistence, and alignment.Those principles, they said, are what keep their creative chemistry intact even amid pressure, fame, and evolving personal lives -- including marriage.The twins shared that their dynamic has changed as they now balance family life with touring and recording schedules, requiring clearer boundaries between work and home.Still, the foundation remains the same: a shared history, a shared sound, and a shared purpose.<div>Looking ahead: global stages, Filipino identity</div>Despite the challenges -- from politics to AI disruption -- the band remains focused on the future.Among their biggest goals is performing at global festivals such as Glastonbury in the United Kingdom, long considered one of the world’s most prestigious music stages.“That’s actually our dream,” Paolo said. But beyond any single stage, the deeper ambition is reach.The band hopes their music continues to travel across borders, carrying Filipino stories, emotions, and identity to audiences worldwide.As Ben&amp;Ben navigates both a divided political landscape and a rapidly evolving technological era, the Guico brothers say the mission remains unchanged: to stay human, stay grounded, and keep creating.Catch the full interview with Ben&amp;Ben on Beyond the Exchange and on YouTube with ANC 24/7.

Ben&amp;Ben’s Paolo and Miguel Benjamin Guico are drawing a clear line between civic responsibility and creative survival in a rapidly changing world.

Ben&Ben’s Paolo and Miguel Benjamin Guico are drawing a clear line between civic responsibility and creative survival in a rapidly changing world.