Photo Credit: Amazon
Amazon partners with AI music company Suno for new functionality in Alexa+, allowing users to generate AI songs on command using voice prompts.
As part of a much broader rollout of new features for the “next generation” of Alexa — called Alexa+ — Amazon is going all in on AI technology. To that end, the company has announced a partnership with AI music company Suno for an integration that allows users to generate AI songs using simple voice prompts.
“Using Alexa’s integration with Suno, you can turn simple, creative requests into complete songs, including vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation. Looking to delight your partner with a personalized song for their birthday based on their love of cats, or surprise your kid by creating a rap using their favorite cartoon characters? Alexa+ has you covered,” writes Panos Panay, SVP of Devices & Services, in an Amazon blog post.
Suno is recognized, perhaps notoriously, as one of the most comprehensive AI music models currently on the market. Indeed, the company (alongside its biggest rival, Udio), is embroiled in a nasty legal battle with the major labels for copyright infringement. The RIAA, Sony Music, Universal Music, and Warner Music joined forces over the summer to sue Suno and Udio for using copyrighted materials to train their AI models.
At the time, neither AI company admitted to any wrongdoing. But a later filing saw Suno admit that it was “no secret” that the million of recordings used to train its AI model “presumably” included those owned by the plaintiffs.
And the major labels aren’t the only ones with lawsuits against Suno. German collection society GEMA also filed a suit against Suno in January. Similarly, their lawsuit also stems from generated output that “largely corresponds” to famous works whose authors are represented by GEMA.
But not everyone in the music industry is out to get Suno. Timbaland was announced in October as a strategic advisor to the AI music company to assist in “creative direction” and product development. The company also announced the addition of EDM artist 3LAU to its roster of advisors.
However, news of Amazon’s new partnership with Suno comes just three months after Universal announced an “expanded global relationship” with Amazon Music. That deal notably includes that the two companies would work “collaboratively to address, among other things, unlawful AI-generated content.”
Insiders say that Amazon did not give its music partners (like Universal) any heads up about its new deal with Suno. Whether the ongoing lawsuit will put a wrench in Amazon’s Alexa+ plans remains to be seen.
Other new features coming to Alexa+ include image generation, new voice filters, smart home operation, Uber booking, and an integration with Ticketmaster. The Ticketmaster deal is designed to help users find “the best tickets to an upcoming basketball game or to the concert you’ve been dying to go to.”
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.