No matter how much people might want to fight the growing popularity of AI tools, it shows no sign of slowing down. Just as generative AI tools for images and videos pop up like gophers, music generators are also catching up.
AI Music Generator Udio
AI music generators have been around for a while, as proven by all the AI music taken down on streaming sites. It's for that reason that artists are also pushing back against the development of such tools as it threatens the way music is created.
Even so, new generative AI tools like Udio are still being launched. Created by ex-employees of Google's DeepMind, the generative AI tool is a music synthesis service that can create high-fidelity audio using text prompts, as per Ars Technica.
Users can even provide their own lyrics and the AI tool will include that in generating music. Udio is capable of recreating known genres like hip hop, pop, classical, hard rock, country, and even barbershop quartet. All a user has to do is indicate that in the text prompt.
To sign up and register, users can use their Google accounts. After that, they can create music through prompts by including details like genre, lyrics, and even random situations that the AI tool can build on like "being rejected for a job" or "losing your savings to a crypto scam."
It uses a large language model like all generative AI services, and then it synthesizes the music. Udio will generate two snippets that can be chosen from and worked on further. Users have the option to share it within the Udio community or other social media platforms.
On the Udio website, there is a roster of creations that the staff chose. There's also a section of trending music, some of which have over 10,000 plays. Some of the most played music are under the country, electronic, and pop genres.
By clicking on the three-dot menu beside the song title, users can build on existing tracks created by others. The options include remixing, extending, adding to playlists, downloading, and even reporting the songs.
Artists Sign an Open Letter in Protest
Generative AI is slowly becoming a danger to artists in the music industry, not only because basically anyone can create music now, but also because of certain cases where an artist's voice is used without their consent.
Back in February, over 200 music artists signed an open letter that warned against the "predatory use of AI." The mentioned artists include Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, J Balvin, and Jon Bon Jovi, as per CNBC.
The letter states that we "must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists' voices and likenesses, violate creators' rights, and destroy the music ecosystem," while also pointing out that it has the potential to advance human creativity.
It all boils down to the irresponsible use of generative AI. Since an artist's voice is part of their brand and their work, unconsented use can be grounds for copyright infringement, especially if the AI-generated content is used for profit.
