By: Nick Gambino
We can barely keep up with the number of AI features being tested or released on a weekly basis by the big tech platforms. This week, YouTube announced that they’re testing a new AI tool that allows users to clone the voice of pop stars.
Dream Track, as it’s called, currently uses the voice of 9 select pop stars who have all given permission for their voice to be used for the AI tool. The artists are Alec Benjamin, Charlie Puth, Charlie XCX, Demi Lovato, John Legend, Papoose, Sia, T-Pain and Troye Sivan. For now, it’s a limited test with only 100 users having access to it.
“We’ve been exploring the possibilities of how AI can empower creativity alongside artists, songwriters, producers and our partners while also identifying its challenges,” Lyor Cohen, the Global Head of Music, YouTube and Toni Reid, the VP of Emerging Experiences & Community Products said in the blog post announcing Dream Track.
This is a sentiment Cohen doubles down on in a video showcasing the AI feature. He acknowledges the fear where some see AI as a threat to human creativity. Cohen states that they are looking at it only as a tool to help humans in their creative endeavors. It’s an assist rather than a replace.
The way it works is simple and just like any other recent AI chatbot. Enter a prompt of what you want to hear and then select the pop star whose voice would fit that prompt. Dream Track will create a 30-second song or track in that style according to your prompt.
They’re saying it can only be used to add a soundtrack to YouTube Shorts, but anyone can see how this can be expanded to be used elsewhere. We’ll have to see what happens when it expands beyond 100 users.
“YouTube and other services are understandably looking for ways to stay competitive with the tidal wave that is TikTok,” Andrew Tropeano, Host of News Around America (www.newsaroundamerica.com), says of the new Dream Track feature. “AI is giving these platforms a new sandbox to play around in and whip up something users will find fresh and exciting.”
