In a groundbreaking move, Microsoft Copilot, the AI-driven chatbot by Microsoft, has expanded its capabilities to include music composition through a seamless integration with the innovative gen AI music app, Suno.
Users can now unleash their musical creativity by inputting prompts into Copilot, such as “Craft a pop song capturing family adventures.” The Suno plugin, available via Microsoft Edge and Copilot.Microsoft.com, transforms these prompts into fully-fledged songs, complete with lyrics, instrumentals, and even singing voices, all derived from a single sentence.
Tech Giants Embrace Gen AI Music Creation
To access this transformative feature, Copilot users need to log in with their Microsoft account and enable the Suno plugin or simply click on the Suno logo labeled “Make music with Suno.” According to a recent post on the Microsoft Bing blog, this collaboration aims to democratize music creation, offering a fun and accessible experience for everyone. The rollout is set to commence today, with availability increasing in the coming weeks.
The integration of AI-driven technology into music creation is a trend gaining momentum across tech giants and startups. In November, Google’s DeepMind AI lab and YouTube joined forces to introduce Lyria, a gen AI model for music, along with Dream Track, an exclusive tool for crafting AI-generated tunes on YouTube Shorts. Meta has also shared its experiments with AI music generation. Notable platforms like Stability AI and Riffusion have launched their own apps, allowing users to create songs and effects inspired by prompts.
Navigating Ethical and Legal Dimensions
While the landscape of AI-synthesized music evolves, ethical and legal considerations remain a focal point. AI algorithms learn from existing music, raising concerns about artists’ consent and compensation. Some gen AI users express discomfort with algorithms training on their music without their approval. Stability AI’s gen AI audio lead resigned, citing exploitation concerns, and the Grammys have excluded fully AI-generated songs from award consideration.
Despite this, many gen AI companies assert fair use as grounds for not compensating artists, even for copyrighted works. Suno, unlike some competitors, does not disclose its AI training data source on its website, nor does it restrict users from prompts like “in the style of [artist]”.
As legal issues surrounding gen AI music unfold, homemade tracks utilizing AI to replicate authentic sounds have gained popularity, often going viral. Music labels, citing intellectual property concerns, have taken action against such tracks on streaming platforms, achieving success. However, gen AI tool creators have found new avenues, operating in less scrutinized corners of the digital realm.
The legal status of gen AI music may see clarification soon, with a Senate bill introduced to provide artists, including musicians, with recourse against unauthorized use of their digital likenesses and musical styles.In conclusion, Microsoft Copilot’s integration with Suno marks a significant leap in AI-driven music creation. While the industry grapples with ethical and legal challenges, these advancements underscore the transformative potential of AI in shaping the future of music composition. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the discussions around the ethical boundaries and legal implications of AI in the realm of artistic expression.
