A startling new survey reveals that most people can’t tell the difference between music created by humans and music generated entirely by artificial intelligence. This finding raises significant questions about the future of music creation, streaming platforms, and the very definition of artistry in a world increasingly shaped by AI.
The blind test, conducted by market research firm Ipsos on behalf of streaming platform Deezer, presented nearly 9,000 participants across eight countries with two AI-generated tracks and one human-made song. A staggering 97% failed to correctly identify the human creation. This inability to distinguish between the two types of music left a majority of survey respondents feeling uncomfortable and unsettled.
The results underscore a growing concern: the rapid influx of AI-generated music onto popular platforms like Apple Music, Deezer, and Spotify. “AI-generated tracks are flooding streaming services,” says Alexis Lanternier, CEO of Deezer. He emphasizes that while this trend is undeniable, there’s strong public desire for transparency. The survey found overwhelming support for clearly labeling AI-created music on these platforms.
This demand for transparency isn’t just about consumer preference; it touches upon deeper anxieties surrounding the potential impact of AI on artists and the creative process itself. “People care about music and want to know if they’re listening to AI or human-made tracks,” Lanternier observes, highlighting concerns about how AI might affect artist livelihoods and the future of genuine musical creation.
Adding fuel to these concerns is the prevalence of what Deezer calls “fraudulent” AI tracks—an estimated 70% of the over 50,000 AI songs uploaded daily to their platform appear designed solely for generating revenue through streams rather than artistic expression.
Deezer has taken steps to combat this deluge of low-quality content by developing an AI detection tool that flags purely AI-generated tracks and removes them from algorithmic recommendations. The company states this measure aims to prevent these tracks from “diluting the royalty pool.” However, Deezer acknowledges that more decisive actions, such as revising their supplier policies or removing/demonetizing problematic content, require careful consideration.
The issue came to a head earlier this week when an AI-composed country song, “Walk My Walk” by Breaking Rust, unexpectedly topped a Billboard chart in the US for the first time, accumulating over 3 million Spotify streams. This landmark event serves as a stark reminder of how quickly AI is reshaping not only the music industry but also public perceptions of what constitutes “real” music.
The lines between human and artificial creation are blurring at an alarming rate, leaving listeners, artists, and the industry itself grappling with profound questions about authenticity, value, and the future of art in the age of AI.
