Timbaland has unveiled his plans to venture further into artificial intelligence, despite recently receiving criticism for using AI-generated Biggie vocals.
As Timbaland explained to Forbes magazine in a recent interview, he plans to “commercialize artificial intelligence software” with the goal of “revolutionizing how songs are made.”
“It’s going to really be a new way of creating and a new way of generating money with less costs,” he said. “I’m already here. This is what I’m doing. I’m going to lead the way.”
According to Forbes, the software was developed by Light Energy Labs, a Miami-based company the producer cofounded last year with software programmer and producer Zayd “Creatrgod” Portillo.
It is Timbaland’s belief that AI voice filters will “open up an unprecedented world of creativity in music.” As a result, he hopes his startup and AI voice filter technology will “usher in the new era.”
Besides benefiting emerging artists, the software could also benefit established ones, he said. Also, it may mean that a producer can use the voice of “a music legend who is no longer with us.”
However, he pointed out there are a host of “legal issues centering on copyright and revenue-sharing” that need to be resolved before the music can be released.
The internet has been saturated with AI-generated songs in recent months — notably “heart on my sleeve”, a track with AI-generated vocals from Drake and The Weeknd that was released earlier this year.
But in Timbaland’s opinion most AI voices have been amateurish, and that “it’s not being done in a way that would make artists and record labels feel proud to be involved.”
In his view, the industry and consumers need high-quality voice filters, human involvement, and a verification system showing that AI voices were authorized: “I don’t want to be afraid of what’s going on. I want to be the guy to figure out a solution.”
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