Ministers have written to bosses of firms across the UK’s music and creative sector to gauge how the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is affecting the industry.
Given many have already raised concerns over the potential for AI-generated work to rip off artists’ voices or authors' publications for instance, ministers in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are seeking feedback from the industry.
“[AI] has been a subject of significant debate across creative sectors and of significant concern for many,” a letter to the sector said.
“We want to ensure that we have as comprehensive a picture as possible of the risks and opportunities that AI presents specifically.”
Given the UK’s ambition to take a front seat in the global development of AI, ministers reassured the creative sector would be “considered in the broader policymaking debate”.
Britain plans to host the world’s first summit concerning regulation of the AI sector in November, with rules around the rapidly growing technology still relatively lax.
Because of this, a rise of AI-generated music, mimicking artists from Drake to Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, has gone unchecked, with some likening the AI-generated songs to the theft of peoples’ voices.
AI-generated songs are getting scary good.
The music industry is NOT prepared for this.
Here's 9 songs created 100% with AI:
1. Michael Jackson singing "I Feel It Coming" by the Weeknd pic.twitter.com/XiaHDSrXOf
— The AI Solopreneur (@aisolopreneur) April 18, 2023
Universal Music and Google have reportedly been drawing up plans to license artists’ voices as a result, but these only appear to be in their early stages.
“AI creates opportunities to maximise the potential of our creative industries and media sector, but we know it also presents risks,” the government added in a statement.
“We want to take a balanced approach that helps secure the UK’s position as a world leader in AI, while protecting our thriving creative sectors.”