A survey published last week suggested 97% of respondents could not spot an AI-generated song. But there are some telltale signs - if you know where to look.
Here’s a quick guide …
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No live performances or social media presence
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‘A mashup of rock hits in a blender’
A song with a formulaic feel - sweet but without much substance or emotional weight - can be a sign of AI, says the musician and technology speaker, as well as vocals that feel breathless.
- ‘AI hasn’t felt heartbreak yet’
“AI hasn’t felt heartbreak yet… It knows patterns,” he explains. “What makes music human is not just sound but the stories behind it.”
- Steps toward transparency
In January, the streaming platform Deezer launched an AI detection tool, followed this summer by a system which tags AI-generated music.
“Dog shit is better than cat shit”
By a very thin margin, but yes. I’d rather listen to AI slop than the Human slop they try to pass for music these days.
literally 1984
But also there is still lots of good human music being created, I guess it’s passing under your radar. Ask around, browse Bandcamp, listen to radio (hint: it’s not just local now, check out Radio Garden).
And here I’ve been thinking there’s been a big wave of great bands lately. Maybe you just listen to crap.
I am talking about the music that gets played in coffee shops, malls, taxis, hotel lobbies, and restaurants all over the world. So yes, I listen to a LOT of crap.
The distinction is between mass produced radio pop and the kind of high brow hipster music you’re into.