'I'm embracing it’: Dr Dre defends AI music and compares it to synths, despite most streaming services ousting slop from their libraries

Dr. Dre, the legendary producer from N.W.A, has admitted to using artificial intelligence (AI) in his music production, according to an interview with the New York Times. Dre, who is also known as Andre Romell Young, joined the ranks of other music producers like David Guetta, Timbaland, and Grimes who have also admitted to using AI in their work.

In his interview, Dre expressed his enthusiasm for AI, stating that he embraces it as a new tool for creativity. He even compared AI to drum machines or synthesizers, drawing parallels with the backlash they faced when these tools were first introduced. However, Dre did not provide any details about how he actually uses AI in his music production process.

The streaming services are currently facing a dilemma with the increasing amount of AI-generated music being uploaded onto their platforms daily. Several major platforms, including Deezer, Qobuz, and Tidal, have taken steps to tackle AI music. Deezer has released non-AI features and unveiled AI removal filters, while Qobuz has announced its own plans to tackle AI, and Tidal does not give royalties to AI music.

Spotify, on the other hand, has been slower to act but recently unveiled an AI Persona tag to identify artists who are not real people. While Dre's use of AI in his music production is unlikely to violate the existing anti-AI rules, as he has a large back catalog predating AI, the streaming services are constantly evolving their policies to address the growing concerns of listeners and the potential issues associated with AI-generated music.