JBL's new portable speakers have 'stem AI' for jamming — they can remove any instrument or vocal from songs in realtime, no internet required

• JBL's two BandBox speakers are made for instruments and mics
• AI stem separation so you can play along with your favorites
• $249 / £199 for BandBox Solo; $599 / £549 for BandBox Trio

JBL has introduced two new portable speakers and practice amps that solve a common musical problem: finding other musicians to practice and play with. The new BandBox Solo and BandBox Trio feature an AI-powered system that should enable you to play guitar with Geese, rock out with Rammstein or, er, play trumpet with Taylor Swift. Although as JBL is at pains to point out, the features are purely for non-commercial purposes.

It's all about the stems. Stems are the individual tracks that make up a recording – the drum tracks, the guitar track, the lead vocal and so on – and the BandBox speakers can separate and adjust those stems from your played music via the ...