SoundCloud Updates its Policy on Artist Content and AI

SoundCloud, a popular music-sharing platform, has announced that it has never used artist content to train AI models. The company has also made a formal commitment to prioritize consent, transparency, and artist control in any future use of AI on its platform. This update comes after artists raised concerns about changes to SoundCloud’s terms of use last year, which seemed to suggest that the company reserved the right to use their music and other content to train generative AI tools.

Previous Terms of Use

The previous terms of use stated that, "In the absence of a separate agreement that states otherwise, You explicitly agree that your Content may be used to inform, train, develop or serve as input to artificial intelligence or machine intelligence technologies or services as part of and for providing the services." This language sparked worries among artists that their work could be used to train AI models without their knowledge or consent.

New Policy

However, SoundCloud has now announced that it will replace the above line with a new one, which reads: "We will not use Your Content to train generative AI models that aim to replicate or synthesize your voice, music, or likeness without your explicit consent, which must be affirmatively provided through an opt-in mechanism." This change aims to provide artists with more control over how their content is used and to ensure that they are not exploited by AI technologies.

Reassurance from SoundCloud

SoundCloud’s representative, Seton, has reiterated that the company has never used member content to train AI, including large language models, for music creation or to mimic or replace members’ work. Seton also stated that if SoundCloud does use generative AI in the future, it may make this opportunity available to human artists with their explicit consent, via an opt-in mechanism.

Criticism of the New Policy

Despite these changes, some critics are not satisfied with SoundCloud’s new policy. Ed Newton-Rex, a tech ethicist who first discovered the change, argues that the tweaked language could still allow for "models trained on your work that might not directly replicate your style but that still compete with you in the market." Newton-Rex believes that the change required to address concerns is simple and should read: "We will not use Your Content to train generative AI models without your explicit consent."

Conclusion

In conclusion, SoundCloud’s update on its policy regarding artist content and AI is a step in the right direction. However, the company still needs to address the concerns of critics like Newton-Rex to ensure that its policy is fair and transparent. By prioritizing consent, transparency, and artist control, SoundCloud can maintain the trust of its users and promote a healthy and creative community on its platform.