On November 16, 2023, Google announced the launch of a new generative artificial intelligence capable of creating music, including with the voices of renowned artists. Dubbed Lyria, this AI will initially be limited to a small group of selected users.
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Lyria is introduced as an AI capable of generating complex and coherent melodies from simple descriptions (musical style, instruments, effects, etc.). However, Google explains that it can also create short songs from A to Z with the voices of real singers with whom the company has collaborated.
The voices of singers like Charlie Puth, Sia, T-Pain, or John Legend will be accessible via Lyria. Google assures that its AI creations will be identifiable without a doubt, thanks to an "inaudible" audio signature designed to "remain detectable even in common modifications like the addition of noise or MP3 compression."
The announcement of Lyria comes just after the announcement of new rules regarding deepfakes on YouTube. The platform aims to require creators to label "realistic" artificial content as such and permit rights-holders to request the removal of deepfakes.
An important issue, particularly for the music industry, with which Google explains it has worked "closely." The arrival of Lyria could indeed promote the creation of musical deepfakes, which could be used to create unauthorized covers or original songs with the voices of famous artists.
Envision crafting your own songs seamlessly blending the vocals of Sia, Charlie Puth, or Demi Lovato – swiftly and within legal bounds. This possibility might soon materialize on YouTube, as Google unveiled the launch of a groundbreaking generative artificial intelligence capable of creating music, including renowned artists' voices, in a recent blog post.
Similar to the likes of ChatGPT for text or Midjourney for images, Lyria is touted as an AI proficient in generating intricate and cohesive melodies from simple descriptions (musical style, instruments, effects, etc.). Moreover, Google elucidates that Lyria possesses the capability to compose short songs entirely from scratch, featuring the authentic voices of real artists collaboratively engaged with the company.
Implications of Lyria:
Lyria could have a significant impact on the music industry. It could allow artists to create new songs more quickly and easily, and fans to realize their dreams of collaborating with their idols.
However, Lyria could also be used for negative purposes, such as creating unauthorized musical deepfakes. Google claims to have taken measures to limit this risk, but it remains to be seen if it will be sufficient.
Towards a New Era of Music?
Lyria is an example of recent advancements in artificial intelligence in the field of music. Other companies, like OpenAI and Meta, are also working on AI capable of creating music.
If these technologies continue to evolve, they could profoundly impact the music industry. They could enable the creation of new forms of music and make music more accessible to the general public.
The advent of Lyria marks a pivotal juncture, revolutionizing the creative landscape while grappling with the challenges posed by artistic manipulation in the digital realm. As discussions unfold, the implications and potentials of this AI within the music industry stand poised for extensive exploration and scrutiny.