Ghostwriter Proposes a Solution for AI in Entertainment
Ghostwriter, the anonymous music producer and songwriter who went viral, proposed a platform for artists to license their voices for projects.
Hollywood continues to grapple with the implications brought by the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), with established norms and practices being challenged and the future remaining uncertain. As AI pushes the boundaries of creativity and the actors’ strike negotiation recently hit another roadblock, ethics and regulations are still at the center of discussions not only in film & TV entertainment, but also in music.
The anonymous songwriter and producer who goes by the name Ghostwriter, known for his AI-augmented tracks that feature the voices of music megastars Drake and The Weeknd, shared his proposal for addressing the AI complexities in entertainment. Ghostwriter's integration of AI in music is not just about technological novelty; it is a statement on adaptation, and his perspective draws parallels between the AI discourse and the early hip-hop artists' dilemmas when sampling from existing tracks without explicit consent.
Ghostwriter's solution to the AI conundrum, specifically in music, is an establishment of a platform or clearinghouse where artists can license their voice for AI use, with defined terms. This could range from setting monetary agreements to setting boundaries for voice usage, ensuring that the artist's voice is not used out of context or in ways that could harm their reputation or stand against their intention.
The plausibility of such a solution is proven by arrangements proposed by other artists like X and Grimes, who expressed willingness to license their voices for certain monetary compensation with limitation to the content they are used in – for instance, no political speech or hate speech is permitted. Similar concepts can be adopted to the cinematic world where artists have a voluntary choice over the use of their work and likeness and the types of projects.
Nevertheless, disruptive technologies like AI post questions on the existing systems in particular involving copyright. In the music world for example, despite being more open to remixing, artists face legal hurdles when sampling music, where labels are expected to be strict about licensing. Many underground artists may still use AI without permission, inspired by Ghostwriter who initially used Drake's voice without consent, and continue to push the boundaries and explore what is possible with AI in music.
The AI-driven future of the music industry is not just about technology. It's about renegotiating boundaries, redefining artistry, and reimagining how artists relate to their creations. As Ghostwriter rightly noted, every significant change starts somewhere, often amidst challenges. He did, however, emphasized that he is done releasing unauthorized music and will only collaborate artists with consent from now on.