"Spotify CEO Daniel Ek: No Plans to Ban AI-Made Music, but AI Impersonation of Artists Unacceptable"

Daniel Ek, the CEO of Spotify, has stated that the company has no plans to completely ban content created by artificial intelligence (AI) from its music streaming platform. Earlier this year, Spotify removed a track that featured AI-cloned voices of the performers Drake and The Weeknd. Ek explained that while there are valid uses of AI in making music, using AI to impersonate human artists without their consent is not acceptable.

Ek categorized AI use in music into three “buckets”:

1. Tools such as auto-tune that improve music, which he believes are acceptable.
2. Tools that mimic artists, which are not acceptable.
3. A middle ground where music created by AI is influenced by existing artists but does not directly impersonate them, which presents a more contentious area for debate.

While AI in music is not banned in all forms on the platform, Spotify does not allow its content to be used for training machine learning or AI models that can then produce music.

The discussion surrounding AI in the creative industries has been a topic of concern for some artists. Irish musician Hozier, for instance, expressed concerns about AI’s impact on the definition of art.

In addition to addressing AI, Ek also discussed Spotify’s significant investments in podcasts, including deals with high-profile figures like Michelle and Barack Obama and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Some of these deals have faced criticism, and Ek acknowledged that while some podcast investments have been successful, others have not.

Ek also touched on regulatory issues, expressing support for the incoming Online Safety Bill aimed at making the internet safer for children and the ongoing Digital Markets and Competition Bill, which aims to address competition concerns related to tech giants.

Furthermore, Ek criticized the policies of Apple and Google’s app stores, particularly the commission fees they charge developers. He argued that these fees could be detrimental to companies like Spotify and emphasized the need for more competition in the tech industry.

Overall, Ek’s comments highlight the complexities and ongoing debates surrounding AI in music, content moderation, podcast investments, and regulatory challenges in the tech industry.