Spaninsh.- Is it unethical to use artificial intelligence in the music industry? That’s the question record labels, international award academies, and singers have had to grapple with. Some have expressed fear that they might be replaced by a tool that becomes more advanced and, consequently, more “real” with each passing day.
The famous Canadian singer Drake is personally facing this dilemma. Just hours ago, he had to remove from his social media a song called “Taylor Made Freestyle” because it included the voice of rapper Tupac Shakur, regarded as one of the most important figures in his genre throughout history. The problem was that it wasn’t Tupac’s real voice, as he died 28 years ago.
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Those managing Tupac Shakur’s estate gave Drake 24 hours to remove the song, or else they would file a lawsuit, according to Billboard. They called it a “blatant violation” of estate rights and an “abuse” of the deceased rapper’s legacy. But that’s not all; the song also included the voice of Snoop Dogg, who is still alive, also recreated with artificial intelligence.
The Double Standard Surrounding AI
This new episode adds to a long list of issues, advancements, and potential harms surrounding artificial intelligence. Ironically, Universal Music Group, the label that markets Drake, complained last year when an internet user posted a track called “Heart on My Sleeve” that combined Drake’s voice with The Weeknd’s.
At that time, the company mentioned “copyright infringement” and demanded its removal from the internet. However, now the singer is doing the same with someone else’s voice, who moreover passed away long ago. All of this only raises several questions: To what extent is the use of artificial intelligence beneficial or harmful? What happens if a song like Drake’s generates income, and who receives it without the label’s involvement in its production?
Less than a month ago, over 200 globally famous singers signed a letter demanding to stop “the predatory use of artificial intelligence to steal voices and images of professional artists.” Among them are Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Camila Cabello, Sam Smith, and Billie Eilish. Still, what would happen if it’s the other way around and they decide to use it because it makes their work easier? Nobody has an answer yet, and there aren’t even legislations on the matter.
Legal Gaps
Snoop Dogg posted a video on Instagram with a variety of emojis to express surprise when Drake’s song came out a few days ago. It seems he wasn’t consulted about the artificial use of his voice.
Those who oversee Tupac Shakur’s estate issued a request for Drake to explain how he created “the sound similarity, the person and company responsible for it, and the recordings or data used to instruct the artificial intelligence model.”
The whole issue is surrounded by legal gaps that could be addressed with laws. However, as technology industry experts are warning, from the formulation to the approval of these laws, artificial intelligence has already made giant strides.