The creative landscape is currently is a perpetual state of unrest. AI plagiaristic programs are everywhere and there’s little regulation for them. Despite the upset from creatives, there are those still trying to find a way to make it work for them rather than against. Which is why YouTube is partnering with artists, songwriters, and producers from Universal Music Group to make what it’s calling the YouTube Music AI Incubator. Complete with principles on how it’s used. Though this still make us narrow our eyes. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one for better or worse.
YouTube says the new Incubator is “rooted in its commitment to collaborate with the music industry alongside bold and responsible innovation in the space.” Apparently, there are three principles that this Incubator will follow. And are developed by UMG chairman-CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. The principles are as follows, as posted by Mohan August 21st.
“A commitment to embrace AI responsibly in partnership with the music industry; protections “that help balance the interests of copyright holders with those of the creative community on YouTube”; and scaling up safeguards (through Content ID policies, detection and enforcement systems) to AI-generated content to address challenges like trademark and copyright abuse, misinformation, spam.” Whether or not this turns out for the better remains to be seen. Depending on how this is used, YouTube might have just created the kind of monster creatives want to avoid.
Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should
“Our challenge and opportunity as an industry is to establish effective tools, incentives and rewards – as well as rules of the road – that enable us to limit AI’s potential downside while promoting its promising upside. If we strike the right balance, I believe AI will amplify human imagination and enrich musical creativity in extraordinary new ways.” says Grainge.
See, this here is where we get worried. That there’s a challenge involved as well as opportunity means there are going to be issues. Obviously every new system has challenges. But that “if” in there has us rolling our eyes. IF they strike the right balance? Honestly, that’s a big “if” considering that music artists are currently fighting against the use of AI. And if it fails, what then? They’ll have created brand new tools for plagiarists and copyright thwarters to abuse. As far as we’re concerned, AI shouldn’t be anywhere near creative spheres. Period.
