Imagine listening to music on Spotify when you quickly realize that you don’t know any of the artists you’re listening to. Clicking on the artist, it is obvious that they are an AI from their bio, which holds a description like, “we explore sound and AI as tools to surface hidden thoughts and reshape them into music we believe in,” making you feel like the music might be more real. All of your recommended music has quickly become AI as the algorithm senses your enjoyment for these particular bands. This is a very realistic story in our AI infested world.

AI music has become a large issue, especially on Spotify. Groups like Bleeding Verse can have upwards of one million monthly listeners. This is likely because most may not realize that what they are listening to is AI generated, with the only admission of this robotic generation being little segments in the description of the band. Phrases like, “human lyrics, turned to songs with AI,” and “Bleeding Verse isn’t here to be seen. It’s here to be felt.” Make the AI seem more human.

Most people are against AI in music, especially in the alternative music scene, which is where the most AI music can be found.

“I listen to a lot of metal music, and I know that already with metal music, the real bands don’t make a lot of money to begin with,” Matt Zurawski, a junior at MCHS and alternative music lover, explained. “So when there are AI bands that aren’t real creators that are going on Spotify and taking views and taking streams, that does affect the music I listen to, and that can, in turn, affect their success and how much music they create.”

After asking another MCHS alternative music lover, Max Letizia said, “I think AI in music is lazy and it runs the environment for real creators.” He also added when asked about how AI in music has impacted him, “It hasn’t impacted me very much, but I’ve definitely noticed it.”

Deezer has reported that around 28 percent of daily uploads are fully AI-generated. While these songs only account for 0.5 percent of actual streams, these statistics still show just how much AI music is plaguing online music streaming services. Additionally, AI music has been impacting other genres of music, not just alternative and metal.

“I think the thing that I care so deeply about on a personal level, is that the AI takes away the creative aspect of a very human field and discipline,” says Ryan Cabildo, the band director at MCHS. “For this sort of thing, we’re starting to miss the point of why we’re doing it anymore … AI and music is very difficult because it creates this slippery slope where there is a possibility and risk of losing makes music important to society and culture.”

At the end of the day, AI in music is just another way to cut corners when it comes to creative work. AI takes away the humanity of a field in which humanity is the foundation for creation.