An example of the user interface for YouTube’s Music AI tools. (Source: Google)

Google Adds YouTube AI Audio to Keep Abreast of Alphabet, TikTok

With the advent of ChatGPT and other AI software, more deep fake videos and audio are in the offing. Now by mixing AI with YouTube, you too can sound like one of nine major recording artists. YouTube is launching a tool that will allow users to create AI-generated music using the voices of popular music artists. Nine artists have lent their voices to the software, including John Legend, Demi Lovato, T-Pain, and Sia, among others, according to a story on cnbc.com.

The launch comes as the company navigates the changing landscape of AI technology and music, alongside major music labels.

AI In Music

YouTube is calling the new digital tool “Dream Track.” The folks at YouTube seem excited about this release, mainly because their competitor Alphabet has already released a similar tool for TikTok users.

In a blog, YouTube executives said, “AI has brought music to the cusp of a new creative era,” and the platform hopes its approach will be “defined by partnership and responsibility.”

“At this initial phase, the experiment is designed to help explore how the technology could be used to create deeper connections between artists and creators, and ultimately, their fans,” YouTube head of music Lyor Cohen and VP of emerging experiences and community products Toni Reid wrote in a blog post .

Users will be limited to 30-second videos, called YouTube shorts.

To hear more of what the Artists themselves have to say about the collaboration, read here. Google also has a few sample Dream Tracks created by participating artists Charlie Puth and T-Pain to aid creators.

Complications with Copyrights

AI-generated music has sprung up across the site in recent months, racking up millions of views, without the permission of artists or record labels. One example is the viral song “Heart On My Sleeve,” which used AI-generated vocals from Drake and The Weeknd.

In April, Universal Music Group petitioned YouTube and other music-sharing sites to remove the song over copyright claims. This technology will likely lead to many lawsuits over use of music without permission or payment.

Dream Track is only one of a suite of AI-related offerings from Google as the company struggles to catch up. Last month, the company released “Dream Screen,” allowing users to add AI-generated backgrounds or short videos to their content just by writing a prompt.

The questions being raised about the propriety of AI-mimicking voices will only get louder and come to be addressed more often through the courts. However, this is an exciting tool for aspiring singers and songwriters. They may get to experience a little of what their favorite artists experience when they hear the recording of their voice that they produced through AI and YouTube.

It could be the start of some fun times for amateur musicians.

read more at cnbc.com