Bad Bunny Furious Over AI Track Using His Voice on TikTok

Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, expressed anger in a WhatsApp post about a viral TikTok song that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to replicate his voice

The track, titled NostalgIA, also features fake vocals from Justin Bieber and Daddy Yankee. Bad Bunny, with over 83 million monthly Spotify listeners, criticized the song and those who enjoyed it, stating they don’t deserve to be his friends. This incident highlights the growing issue of AI-generated tracks, with artists like Drake and The Weeknd also facing similar challenges.

AI-Generated Tracks and Artist Outrage

The track NostalgIA, uploaded by a user named flowgptmusic, employs AI technology similar to platforms like FlowGPT. Bad Bunny’s furious reaction on WhatsApp, where he has 19 million followers, emphasizes the artist’s displeasure with AI-generated content mimicking his voice. While Bad Bunny used strong language in his post, there’s no official comment from his record label regarding the AI track.

Past Instances of AI-Generated Tracks

This isn’t the first time artists have objected to AI-generated tracks. Drake and The Weeknd faced a similar situation with Heart On My Sleeve, which led to the removal of the song from major music platforms. The debate around AI-generated music involves issues of copyright ownership, as the technology analyzes extensive music databases to create new compositions.

Industry Perspectives on AI in Music

While some artists vehemently oppose the use of AI to clone voices, others see it as a potentially useful tool for music creation. The boss of Spotify, in an interview with the BBC, mentioned the platform’s openness to AI-generated tracks but drew a line when it comes to cloning artists’ voices. The ongoing discussion around AI in the music industry raises questions about copyright laws and the ethical use of technology in artistic expression.