The "YouTube Music" platform announced the start of adding a label to songs that were primarily produced using generative artificial intelligence, in an attempt to enable listeners to know whether they are listening to human-made work or music created by algorithms.
The label will appear directly on the song's playback page, and users can click on it to view additional information regarding the role of artificial intelligence in its production. YouTube confirmed that the feature will later expand to include the main YouTube app, not just the music service.
The new mechanism relies on two pathways: disclosure by music production and distribution companies about the use of artificial intelligence, and internal tracking tools used by YouTube to identify algorithmically generated content.
According to the platform's guidelines, partners can classify musical works into three categories: works produced entirely by artificial intelligence, works in which the technology was used partially, and works that did not use generative artificial intelligence.
If a partner does not provide information about how the song was produced, YouTube may rely on its own technical indicators to determine the appropriate classification.
This does not mean that any song that used traditional digital tools will automatically be classified as an artificial intelligence product. The distinction relates to the use of generative models in creating musical content, such as melodies or vocal sounds.
The short answer is no; the new label aims to disclose the nature of the production, not to prevent the circulation of artificial music.
YouTube's policies clarify that mere disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence does not automatically restrict the distribution of the content or deny it revenue potential.
Thus, the platform leaves the choice to the listener, rather than excluding works produced using these technologies from its music library.
This step comes amid the growing ability of artificial intelligence tools to produce complete songs that include melodies, musical arrangements, and vocal sounds, without the need for traditional recording in a studio.
The distinction based solely on listening between human and artificial voices has become more challenging, especially with the advancement of voice simulation technologies.
YouTube does not face this challenge alone, as other music platforms have started to adopt different policies to deal with AI-generated content, ranging from disclosure and filtration to imposing restrictions on certain works.
However, classification does not resolve all questions related to intellectual property rights, the use of artists' voices without their consent, or the entitlement of artificial works to compete for streaming revenues.