People will have the opportunity to self-disclose with an \u201cAI Persona\u201d badge. Otherwise, the streaming giant will start identifying and tagging relevant profiles<\/p>\n
A display showing how Spotify will start applying \u201cAI Persona\u201d badges to profiles featuring music from AI-generated artists. Courtesy of Spotify<\/p>\n
Spotify\u00a0will start handing out \u201cAI Persona\u201d badges to artist profiles featuring music generated with\u00a0artificial intelligence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new policy will officially go into effect in mid-September, though people behind AI artists will have the option to self-disclose starting today (Aug. 11). Otherwise, Spotify will start reviewing, identifying, and labeling the badge to relevant profiles. Music from artist profiles embossed with the AI Persona badge also won\u2019t appear in any of Spotify\u2019s editorial or algorithmic recommendations (though they can appear in personalized recommendations if a user follows such an artist).<\/p>\n
In a statement, Spotify said it will be looking for artist profiles that appear to use \u201cphotorealistic AI-generated identities.\u201d It\u2019ll also focus primarily on artists \u201cwho have met defined audience thresholds, so the labels cover the vast majority of artist profiles that users visit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The AI Persona badge will appear on artist profiles, as well as in search results and on track rows on playlists. Furthermore, users will be able to see whether the person behind the AI artist chose to self-disclose, or if Spotify stepped in \u201cto review and make an informed determination.\u201d Artists given the AI Persona badge by Spotify will have the chance to self-disclose, or they\u2019ll be able to appeal the decision if it was a mistake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Streaming services have seen a\u00a0drastic rise of AI music\u00a0over the past few years, with several AI personas, like\u00a0Sienna Rose\u00a0and\u00a0the Velvet Sundown, generating millions of streams. Spotify has already rolled out tools like AI Credits and SongDNA to help identify music made with AI tools, and the company said the new AI Persona badge was about addressing the question of \u201cwhether a profile represents an actual human.\u201d Spotify said that listeners have overwhelmingly made it clear that \u201cthey don\u2019t like seeing an artist profile that seems human, only to find out the persona is AI-generated.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the company has also generated some heat for some of its other AI-focused initiatives. In July,\u00a0Lorde called out Spotify\u2019s \u201cAbout the Song\u201d feature\u00a0after it appeared to use AI to generate phony information about her\u00a0Virgin\u00a0track \u201cCurrent Affairs.\u201d A Spotify spokesperson acknowledged the mistake and noted the \u201cAbout the Song\u201d tool was still in beta.<\/p>\n