Spotify to Label AI-Generated Artists to Boost Transparency
The streaming service will introduce an "AI Persona" badge starting mid-September to indicate when an artist's identity is not that of a real person.
Spotify is launching a new feature to identify artists whose identities are generated by artificial intelligence, aiming to provide greater transparency for its listeners. Starting in mid-September, the streaming platform will begin displaying an "AI Persona" badge on some artist profiles. This badge will signal to users that the artist "may be AI-generated and does not represent a real person."
The move comes in response to feedback from music fans who expressed dissatisfaction upon discovering that artists they perceived as human were, in fact, AI-generated. Spotify stated that "true artist-fan connection can only be built on a foundation of trust and authenticity." The company emphasized that in the realm of music, it is crucial for listeners to trust that the artist behind the music is who they claim to be, a principle that has become increasingly important with the rise of generative AI.
Concerns regarding AI-generated music have been a recurring issue for Spotify users. Previously, the BBC reported on a listener who developed a tool to automatically detect and block suspected AI-generated tracks that were appearing in his playlists. The introduction of the AI Persona badge is intended to address these concerns by ensuring clarity about the origin of the music and the identity of the artists on the platform.