Sony Launches AI Music Tracking Tool To Trace Original Sources

Sony Group Corp. has unveiled a new technological solution aimed at identifying the original sources of music created by artificial intelligence, offering a potential breakthrough in the battle against unauthorised use of copyrighted material in AI training and generation.

The innovation, developed by the Japanese electronics and entertainment giant, is designed to extract data from the underlying models used in AI music generators and compare AI-produced compositions with known works in existing catalogues. This comparison can help determine whether a generated track has drawn on specific original songs, enabling rights holders such as composers, songwriters and publishers to trace their contributions and demand compensation.

As the music industry confronts the rapid rise of generative AI tools capable of producing songs and soundtracks, concerns have grown about the unauthorised use of protected works during model training. Sony’s technology aims to address these issues by quantifying the influence of original music within AI outputs, potentially laying the groundwork for a framework to ensure creators are fairly remunerated when their work is used without permission.

A spokesperson for Sony’s entertainment division said the company hopes the tool will contribute to “a system in which creators are properly compensated” as AI-generated content becomes more prevalent.

The development comes amid industry-wide efforts to regulate AI use in creative sectors and protect intellectual property. Prior initiatives have included tools aimed at detecting copyrighted material in AI outputs and watermarking AI-generated media, reflecting growing demand from artists and rights organisations for greater transparency and control over AI-related uses of creative works.

Sony’s technology represents a significant step forward in balancing innovation in AI music with the protection of original artistic contributions, a challenge increasingly at the forefront of discussions around generative technologies and copyright enforcement.