Oh boy, Grimes is at it again! The pop singer, who apparently has a real name but who cares, is inviting musicians to clone her voice using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create new songs. Because why collaborate with actual human beings when you can fuse with a machine, amirite?
In a generous move, Grimes is offering to split the 50% royalties on any successful AI-generated song that uses her voice. And just like with any other artist she collabs with, she’s totally cool with people using her voice without penalty. Because who needs to worry about copyright when you’re dealing with AI?
Meanwhile, the music industry is scrambling to figure out what to do about AI-generated songs that use artists’ voices without their permission. Universal Music successfully petitioned streaming services to remove a song called Heart On My Sleeve, which used deep-faked vocals from Drake and The Weeknd. The legal situation is a bit of a grey area, and the US Copyright Office recently ruled that AI art, including music, can’t be copyrighted as it is “not the product of human authorship.” So, yeah, good luck with that.
But back to Grimes. She’s already working on a program that should simulate her voice well, and she’s even considering releasing a cappella tracks for people to train their own software on. Because why not make it even easier for people to clone your voice and profit off of it?
Of course, there are some limits to what Grimes is willing to tolerate. She may do copyright takedowns for “rly rly toxic lyrics” or songs that are “anti-abortion or [something] like that.” But when it comes to whether she actually has the legal right to ask for songs using her voice to be taken down, she’s not sure. Because, you know, who needs to worry about legalities when you’re busy being fused with a machine?
All in all, Grimes is excited about the “idea of open sourcing all art and killing copyright.” Because who needs the pesky concept of ownership when you’re dealing with AI-generated music? It’s just another step in her exploration of the relationship between humans and machines, which has already produced such classics as We Appreciate Power and Flesh Without Blood. So, let’s all give a warm welcome to the AI-generated future of music, where humans are replaced by machines and copyright is a thing of the past. What could possibly go wrong?
In the meantime, Grimes is hard at work on her new project: a voice cloning machine that will allow anyone to create their own Grimes clone. “I think it’s going to be amazing,” she tweeted. “Imagine being able to have your own personal Grimes, singing your favorite songs just for you. It’s going to be like having your own personal robot girlfriend.”
Or, as Grimes herself might put it:”I’m done with music. It’s boring. I’m going to clone my voice and make everyone listen to it forever. It’s going to be great. You’re all going to love it. Trust me.”
Grimes, out.
