The Recording Academy has released new guidelines stating that the Grammy Awards will only consider works that have a significant contribution from humans. These rules come as the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in music and art continues to be questioned. According to the guidelines, works that do not have human authorship are not eligible for consideration in any category. However, works that incorporate AI are eligible if the human component is meaningful and more than trivial. The author of AI material used in a work is not eligible.
The CEO of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr., believes that AI will play a significant role in the future of the music industry. While he acknowledges the uncertainty around AI’s impact, he believes it will be a part of the artistic community and society as a whole. Mason Jr. emphasizes the need to plan and adapt to accommodate AI while setting standards and guardrails. The Recording Academy has engaged in discussions with artists, tech entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to address the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.
AI’s emerging role in music has raised questions about its impact on employment, trustworthiness of AI-powered information, and the potential superiority of AI over humans. Similar debates have occurred in the past, such as the cloning of Dolly the sheep in 1996, which led to concerns about human cloning. Governments and lawmakers are now examining ways to regulate AI’s development in the coming years. In the creative space, AI is already being used to create music and art, posing challenges for industry organizations like the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.
AI has also been used to simulate the performances of famous or deceased singers, such as Freddie Mercury and John Lennon. For example, YouTube features AI-generated renditions of famous songs performed by deceased artists. In the case of the Beatles, AI has been used to enhance John Lennon’s vocals in a new track based on a preliminary recording from 1978. Despite the poor audio quality, the AI technology enabled the extraction and enhancement of Lennon’s voice, allowing for the creation of a new Beatles record.
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