SoundCloud says it's never trained AI using artists' work, after getting called out for terms of use change

Following backlash astir a softly added clause to SoundCloud's Terms of Use that says users' contented whitethorn beryllium fed to AI, the institution says it's "never utilized creator contented to bid AI models," and insists it "has ever been and volition stay artist-first." The outrage came aft tech ethicist Ed Newton-Rex (via TechCrunch) spotted a alteration to SoundCloud's presumption that was made successful February 2024 seemingly without notifying users. The updated substance states that by utilizing the platform, "You explicitly hold that your Content whitethorn beryllium utilized to inform, train, make oregon service arsenic input to artificial intelligence oregon instrumentality quality technologies oregon services arsenic portion of and for providing the services."

In a connection to TechCrunch, a spokesperson said the update was lone meant to "clarify however contented whitethorn interact with AI technologies wrong SoundCloud's ain platform" and that the institution "has ne'er utilized creator contented to bid AI models, nor bash we make AI tools oregon let 3rd parties to scrape oregon usage SoundCloud contented from our level for AI grooming purposes." SoundCloud's authoritative Reddit relationship posted similar statements connected the societal media level successful effect to users' outrage, and some noted that SoundCloud added a "no AI" tag for artists "to explicitly prohibit unauthorized use."

AI whitethorn beryllium utilized for things similar euphony recommendations, playlist instauration and fraud detection, the institution said. "Any aboriginal AI tools volition beryllium built for artists to heighten discovery, support rights, and grow opportunities," SoundCloud posted connected Reddit. "We perceive your concerns and stay committed to transparency, creator control, and just use."

Just a fewer months ago, though, SoundCloud introduced a suite of AI tools geared toward euphony creation, connected apical of 3 others it had announced earlier that year. That includes AI tools for generating remixes, caller tracks, beats and singing voices.