Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, a music industry titan, has weighed in on the controversial issue of AI-generated music.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Ek said that Spotify will not completely ban AI-generated music from its platform, but that it should not be used to impersonate real artists without their consent.
Ek explained that there are three main ways that AI is being used in music today:
- Tools like auto-tune: These tools help artists improve their vocals and are widely accepted as legitimate tools in the music industry.
- Software that impersonates artists: This software can be used to create songs that sound like they were sung by a particular artist, even if the artist was not involved in the creation of the song. Ek said that Spotify does not allow this type of content on its platform because it is deceptive and can violate the copyright of the artist being impersonated.
- AI-generated music that is inspired by a specific artist but does not directly mimic them: This type of AI music is more controversial, but Ek said that he believes it is acceptable as long as the artist is credited.
Spotify CEO acknowledged that the issue of AI-generated music is complex and that there is no easy answer.
He said that his company is committed to working with artists and other stakeholders to develop guidelines for the responsible use of AI in music.
Ek also said that Spotify has a large team of people working to identify and remove AI-generated music that violates its terms of service.
