AI Music Fools Most People, and They’re Not Happy About It

Our playlists become a playground for AI-generated music. And that makes us uncomfortable, especially because it’s becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish authentic human-made melodies from musical deepfakes.

According to a new survey of 9,000 people by music service Deezer and research firm Ipsos, participants listened to three songs and then had to choose which were entirely AI-generated and which were not. Almost all respondents (97%) could not tell the difference.

Of those who couldn’t tell, 71% said they were surprised by the results and more than half, or 52%, felt uncomfortable about not being able to distinguish music from AI. Respondents expressed ambivalence about AI and music: About two-thirds expressed curiosity about AI-generated music, with a willingness to try listening to it at least once, but four in five (80%) agreed that AI-generated music should be clearly labeled for listeners.

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Deezer, which commissioned the survey, has reason to point out people’s inability to know whether they are listening to AI-generated songs. In January, it rolled out an AI detection tool in music. In the survey release, the company said it receives 50,000 AI-generated leads every day.

Troubling feelings about AI and music have reached a crescendo in recent days as an AI-powered track from a source called Breaking Rust topped Billboard’s digital country music charts. Last month, the music streaming giant Spotify signed agreements with Sony, Universal and Warner to develop AI music products.

Mixed Feelings About AI Music

Some of the other results from the Deezer/Ipsos survey showed curiosity and caution in listeners’ attitudes towards AI music:

• 46% believe AI will help them discover the music they love.
• 51% believe AI will lead to lower quality, generic music on streaming platforms.
• 45% of them would filter AI music from their music services if they could.
• 70% believe AI music threatens the livelihoods of real music artists.

The Deezer/Ipsos survey of 9,000 adults aged 18 to 65 was conducted in early October in eight countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Japan.