AI Music Experiments

An early look at our first set of AI-related music experiments
Music AI tools and Dream Track for Shorts

Experiment 01

We’re experimenting with new ways for artists, songwriters, and producers to enhance their creative process with the help of AI tools. New ways to seamlessly turn their thoughts and ideas into music, like helping an artist decide if the melody in their head would be better as a guitar or a trumpet. Or taking a pop track they’re working on and giving it a reggaeton feel.

These prospective tools will help bring new, creative possibilities to artists, songwriters, and producers. We’re inviting our Music AI Incubator participants to test them out in the studio later this year.

A sidekick for your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

“We’re at a crucial crossroads in human history, and participating in determining our direction is humbling. Ultimately, technology can’t substitute for personal taste; therefore, a chef with access to infinite ingredients must still rely on his own intuition in the end.”

Louis Bell, Producer / Songwriter

Experiment 02

Since day one, YouTube has been a place for fans to get closer to their favorite artists.

From watching music videos to creating homages through dance videos, remixes, covers, and more. This creativity from fans deepens their connection to artists, propels the artists’ music, and has become a significant revenue source for the music industry. And we believe YouTube AI features, when designed in line with our music AI principles, can unlock even more fun and unique ways for fans to create.

This is a first look at an experiment we are calling Dream Track in YouTube Shorts, powered by Google DeepMind’s most advanced AI music generation model to date, Lyria. Artists who’ve chosen to opt into this experiment—including Charlie Puth, Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, John Legend, Sia, T-Pain, Troye Sivan, Papoose, and Alec Benjamin—are giving a small group of US creators the chance to create unique soundtracks for their Shorts (up to 30 seconds) featuring the AI-generated voice of participating artists.

As this limited group of early creators and artists experiment with Dream Track, we’ll continue to be guided by our music AI principles of responsible collaboration. We’re working closely with our partners in the music industry to develop new monetization and attribution frameworks, leveraging infrastructures like Content ID, our best-in-class rights management technology. We’ve also heard from partners on the need to provide the right options and controls to manage these emerging technologies. We’re still in the early stages of this work and expect that we’ll continue to evolve our approach as we learn more. You can read more about YouTube’s progress in responsible AI innovation here.

What’s your song about?

A ballad about how opposites attract, upbeat acoustic
Charlie Puth

“I’m extremely excited and inspired by the realm of musical possibilities that come from allowing the human-mind to collaborate with the non-human mind. YouTube has been a great partner in outlining their approach to AI and understand the need to work together with artists like me to develop this technology responsibly, ensuring it will accelerate creativity instead of replacing it.”

Charlie Puth

What’s your song about?

A sunny morning in Florida, R&B
T-Pain

“The development of AI technology is happening quickly and we should be a part of shaping that future. I have always been about pushing the boundaries of technology and harnessing it to make the most interesting music for my fans. Who knows what the future holds but joining hands with YouTube and Google to help shape that future feels like a great first step.”

T-Pain

We believe AI is meant to amplify creativity, not replace it. When technological innovation, human imagination, and music meet, extraordinary things can happen. Stay tuned for updates.