YouTube Music Adds Labels for AI-Generated Songs

AI-generated music can now appear on streaming services without listeners realizing how it was made. To provide more transparency, Google says YouTube Music will begin labeling songs created or significantly modified with generative AI, following similar disclosures in the main YouTube app.

YouTube Music AI Labels Explain How Songs Were Created

Google is not banning AI-generated music or dismissing its creative potential. “Generative AI opens up new ways for artists to create, experiment, and share music,” the company said in a blog post.

However, Google also acknowledges that listeners may want to know whether a song was made with a generative AI tool. New AI labels are rolling out across the YouTube Music app and website, similar to the labels Google began adding to AI-generated videos on YouTube earlier this year.

The AI label will appear on the player page. Tapping it will open a menu with additional information about the song’s use of artificial intelligence.

How Google Identifies AI-Generated Music

The label applies to songs that were created entirely with AI or significantly modified using generative AI. Identifying those tracks, however, can be challenging.

Google says its process for labeling AI music is similar to the detection system used for YouTube videos. The company is working with partners and using its own detection tools to identify music created with AI.

When uploading content, publishers can also specify how much generative AI was used. The available categories include fully generated AI, partially generated AI, and non-generated AI. Providing this information is optional.

As AI-generated music becomes more common, YouTube Music’s new labels give listeners a clearer way to understand how the songs they hear were produced.