Our playlists are becoming a playground for AI-generated music. And that’s making us uneasy, especially because it’s getting harder and harder to discern the genuine, human-made tunes from the musical deepfakes.
According to a new survey of 9,000 people by the music service Deezer and the research firm Ipsos, participants listened to three songs and then had to choose which were fully AI-generated and which weren’t. Nearly all respondents (97%) couldn’t tell the difference.
Of those who couldn’t tell, 71% said they were surprised by the results and more than half, 52%, were uncomfortable they couldn’t distinguish the AI music. Respondents expressed ambivalence about AI and music: About two-thirds expressed curiosity about AI-generated music, with a willingness to try listening at least once, but four out of five (80%) agreed that AI music should be clearly labeled for listeners.
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Deezer, which commissioned the survey, has reason to underscore people’s inability to tell if they’re listening to AI-generated songs. In January, it rolled out a detection tool for AI in music. In the release for the survey, the company said it receives 50,000 AI-generated tracks every day.
The unsettling feelings about AI and music have seen a crescendo in recent days as an AI-powered tune from source called Breaking Rust topped Billboard’s country digital music charts. Last month, music streaming giant Spotify signed deals with Sony, Universal and Warner to develop AI music products.
Mixed feelings on AI music
Some of the other findings from the Deezer/Ipsos survey showed curiosity and caution in listeners’ attitudes toward AI music:
- 46% think AI will help them discover music they like.
- 51% believe AI will lead to lower-quality, generic-sounding music on streaming platforms.
- 45% would filter out AI music from their music services if they could.
- 70% believe AI music threatens the livelihood of real music artists.
The Deezer/Ipsos survey of 9,000 adults ages 18-65 was conducted in early October in eight countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, UK, France, Netherlands, Germany and Japan.