YouTube has added new labels for artificial intelligence-generated music in its YouTube Music app and across other platform elements, as the company looks to meet growing audience demand for more transparency around AI-generated content.
As shown in this image, YouTube will now display an "AI" label on music that its system believes has been generated with AI. Tapping on the AI label will provide a basic explainer that the content has been AI-generated.
As explained by YouTube: “Generative AI is opening up new ways for artists to create, experiment, and share music. As these tools evolve, our listeners have told us they want transparency when they’re hearing an AI-generated track. Starting today, YouTube Music is rolling out labels to make it easier to see when a song was created primarily using generative AI. For example, this includes using a generative model to create the composition and vocals.”
YouTube said the same labels will also be extended to the main YouTube app.
YouTube said it has its own internal tools to detect AI-generated music and is also teaming up with music partners to beef up these tools in order to ensure that its AI labels are applied accurately.
“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for viewers and listeners to have the right information and clarity when it comes to the music they listen to,” YouTube said.
AI-generated music has become a point of contention of late, with several AI-generated songs gaining high radio rotation.
As reported by The Guardian, in Australia an AI-generated remix of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” recently became the top song on local charts. The Australian Recording Industry Association responded by implementing new rules that require all music included in its charts to be substantially human-made moving forward.
While AI tools enable broader creative opportunities, there are also concerns that this undercuts human artists by effectively using their work against them. As such, it makes sense for YouTube to implement more AI transparency measures and to ensure that users are aware of what’s actually gone into making a track.
