How to Determine If a Song Was Created by AI: Tips for Verification
When encountering a new song, some may question whether it was created entirely by AI. For those curious to determine the authenticity of a song, there are several methods available to uncover its origin.
Traditional music creation involves pop groups and rock bands using instruments like guitars, keyboards, and drumsticks. However, in the modern era, artists like Oliver McCann, known as imoliver, utilize AI technology to generate music. AI song creation tools such as Suno and Udio have led to the emergence of synthetic music. This movement was exemplified by the rise of a fictitious group called Velvet Sundown, whose songs, lyrics, and album art were all AI-generated. The increasing prevalence of AI-generated content has sparked debates on the role of AI in the music industry, with some expressing concerns about the quality and authenticity of mass-produced AI content.
Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize the music world, but its impact on the global recorded music market remains largely unknown. While reports indicate that AI voice generators have not yet dominated mainstream music, the question of how to determine the human authenticity of a song lingers. Some listeners may not be bothered by AI-generated music, while others may be interested in discerning whether a song was created with AI.
To investigate the authenticity of a song, it is essential to conduct a background check on the artist or band behind the song. Look for social media presence, upcoming concerts, previous performances, and record label affiliations. Additionally, song creators often publish their music on platforms like Suno and Udio, providing avenues for listeners to discover the origin of a particular song.
Platforms like Deezer have started flagging albums containing AI-generated songs to enhance transparency and combat streaming fraud. By labeling AI-generated content on their app and website, Deezer aims to notify listeners about the presence of such tracks. The company utilizes in-house technology to detect patterns indicative of AI-generated audio content, with a significant percentage of daily uploads being AI-generated tracks.
Third-party services are available online to help determine whether a song is human-made or AI-generated. By using tools like IRCAM Amplify, users can assess the probability of a song being AI-generated based on specific criteria. However, the accuracy of these tools may vary, and results should be cross-checked to validate their reliability.
In addition to analyzing the music, examining the lyrics of a song can provide insights into its authenticity. AI-generated lyrics may exhibit poor rhyming schemes or repetitive structures, signaling that the song was not created by a human. However, these indicators are subjective, and some users have noted common themes or words used by AI-generated lyric tools like Suno.
As AI technology continues to advance rapidly, determining the authenticity of music solely through listening becomes increasingly challenging. Generative AI models like Suno and Udio are constantly evolving, rendering traditional identifiers obsolete. Experts caution that identifying AI-generated content based on sound alone is no longer a straightforward task given the pace of technological advancements in the field.