Our playlists become a platform for music created by artificial intelligence. And this worries us, especially since it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish real, man-made melodies from deepfakes.
According to the new survey of 9000 people By music service Deezer and research firm Ipsos, participants listened to three songs and then had to choose which ones were entirely created using artificial intelligence and which ones were not. Almost all respondents (97%) could not notice the difference.
Of those who couldn't tell, 71% said they were surprised by the results, and more than half, 52%, were unhappy that they couldn't tell the difference between the AI's music. Respondents expressed ambivalence about AI and music: About two-thirds expressed interest in AI-produced music and expressed a willingness to try listening at least once, but four in five (80%) agreed that AI music should be clearly labeled for listeners.
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Deezer, which commissioned the study, has reason to highlight the inability of people to distinguish songs created by artificial intelligence from songs created by people. Launched in January artificial intelligence detection tool in music. In a press release accompanying the survey, the company said it receives 50,000 AI-generated tracks every day.
Anxious feelings about artificial intelligence and music have reached a fever pitch in recent days with a tune from an AI-powered country band called Breaking Rust topped Billboard digital country music charts. Last month, the music streaming giant Spotify signed deals with Sony, Universal and Warner to develop artificial intelligence music products.
Mixed feelings from AI music
Some other results from the Deezer/Ipsos survey demonstrated listeners' curiosity and caution about AI music:
- 46% believe AI will help them find music they like.
- 51% believe that artificial intelligence will reduce the quality of substandard-sounding music on streaming platforms.
- 45% would filter AI music from their music services if they could.
- 70% believe that AI music threatens the existence of real music artists.
The Deezer/Ipsos poll of 9,000 adults aged 18 to 65 was conducted in early October in eight countries: the US, Canada, Brazil, UK, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Japan.
Changes in the music industry
The debate over AI-generated music extends beyond listeners and performers—even musical instrument companies are interested in the future of AI-generated songs.
“From our perspective, we see a great opportunity to use AI as a tool to enhance and expand human creativity as long as the tools are developed responsibly, but we oppose consumer platforms that use music created solely by AI and can compete with human creators,” said Paul McCabe, senior vice president of research and innovation at the music equipment maker. Roland.
McCabe said his company believes listeners should be warned when they hear AI-generated material in their music, and that his company and others are working on solutions “to confirm the provenance (origin and ownership) of the music.” This could include AI music discovery tools that Deezer has previously released, as well as new technologies that can detect and label AI-generated music.
Can artificial intelligence music coexist with human-made music? According to McCabe, if there is a clear audience label for AI music, if human artists choose to use AI to enhance their own art, and if AI-generated musical elements are designed in a way that respects and protects human creativity (he cites principles in AI for music as an example), then “yes, peaceful coexistence is possible.”
