TikTok is testing a new feature called AI Song that utilizes artificial intelligence
TikTok is testing a new feature called 'AI Song' that uses artificial intelligence to create songs based on prompts entered by users," the company confirmed to TechCrunch. AI Song is an experimental feature and is currently only available to a limited number of users. The function is designed for fun, not to try to create the next viral song.
The company told TechCrunch that AI Song uses Bloom, a large language model, to create lyrics based on text prompts. The lyrics are then matched with music from a pre-saved catalog created within TikTok.
TikTok user Jonah Manzano posted a guide to the new feature to explain how it works. According to the video, AI Song starts by asking users to "enter a prompt to generate a song." TikTok provides some suggested prompts like "Going to concerts," "A fresh start," and "Cuddling with pets." Or you can enter your own prompt. After entering a prompt, the app will start generating the song.
After a few seconds, the app will create lyrics related to the text prompt and match them with music. You can change the atmosphere of the song by switching between "pop," "EDM," and "Hiphop." The end result is a quirky song with lyrics based on the entered text prompt.
According to the video, the application emphasizes that there are "rules that must be followed" when using AI Song. For example, the feature cannot be used to exploit or harm minors or spread false or personal information that harms others. It also cannot be used to defame, impersonate, or harass others.
As with any other testing feature, it is not known when or if AI Song will be launched more widely. TikTok noted that it might change the feature's name in the future.
TikTok is not the only company that has launched tools to help users create music for short videos. Some months ago, YouTube introduced a "Dream Track" feature that allows creators to create AI-generated soundtracks lasting 30 seconds. Users can create a soundtrack with the voices of selected artists, including Alec Benjamin, Charlie Puth, Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, John Legend, Sia, T-Pain, Troye Sivan, and Papoose.
It's important to note that while TikTok's new feature is not designed for the music industry, ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, launched a free music production app in the United States last June to help musicians create and edit audio similar to smart portable digital audio workstations (DAWs).
With Ripple, users can sing a melody directly into the app, after which it uses machine learning to expand the melody and turn it into an instrumental song. The app's model was trained on ByteDance-licensed or owned music. Ripple allows users to easily record, cut, trim, and edit audio files on their mobile devices.
The new AI Song feature comes as TikTok is deepening its commitment to the music industry. Last year, it launched its own paid music streaming service called "TikTok Music" in some selected countries to challenge companies like Spotify and Apple Music.
Although TikTok has not shared details on when it plans to launch the streaming service in the United States, it has been over a year since ByteDance filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a service called "TikTok Music," so a launch can be expected in the future.
