Jay-Z's Delaware producer sparks debate over AI rights

The rise of artificial intelligence is exciting and terrifying people at the same time on social media, with tools like ChatGPT and Voice.Ai.

AI-generated songs keep popping up on TikTok and other platforms with voice filters that accurately imitate popular artists like Eminem, Michael Jackson and Ye (formerly Kanye West).  

Jay-Z's longtime producer and engineer is from Wilmington. Young Guru (Gimel Keaton) recently made a post on Instagram that went viral in which he shared a clip from an AI-generated Jay-Z rap verse that sounds identical to the hip-hop legend.

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The song was produced by beatmaker 20syl and written by Mr. J. Medeiros, according to 20syl's YouTube page.

Many voice generators exist and are often easy to use like Voice.AI, which is free.

In Young Guru's Instagram post, he was concerned that AI's ability to clone anyone's voice (including non-musicians) could open the door to harmful outcomes.

"People should not be able to take your Name, Image and Likeness without permission," Guru wrote. 

Internet reacts to AI Jay-Z

A number of entertainers chimed in on the post. 

"How much for a verse from AI Jay? Asking for a friend ...," rap legend Rah Digga pondered.  

"Forget jay-z raps … someone can accuse you of crime then use AI to generate an entire conversation that didn’t happen at all using your voice," Kenrick Chance responded. 

"As soon as you tell A.I. to sound like “whoever” [...] cut that person a check immediately. You’re telling A.I. to copy someone’s voice & mannerisms," rapper Lord Finesse argued. 

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Can you copyright your voice? 

Music artists traditionally had their music and lyrics copyrighted in order to protect their works from theft.  

Attorney Ruth Carter with Venjuris law firm in Arizona specializes in copyright law. Carter said voices aren't protected by copyright — at least not yet. 

Can you get in trouble making AI songs?  

While an artist can't copyright their voice, if someone has trained AI to copy another artist's voice without their permission, there are still claims that the plaintiff may be able to make against them. 

For example, the plaintiff could sue if the defendant is profiting from their voice.  

While it wouldn't fall under copyright infringement, Carter said, it likely violates the plaintiff's "right to publicity" or their "right to likeness." 

Both are laws at the state level and involve a person’s right to control where their name, face and voice appears in relationship to unauthorized commercial use.

"You have the right to make money off yourself and to stop people from making money off of you without your consent," Carter said.  

They explained that using AI to impersonate and spread lies about someone, such as having them "endorse" their rival political party, probably falls under defamation, which is illegal. 

Making money from a parody?

The attorney said that record labels might send a cease-and-desist letter if they catch a content creator posting videos on social media using voice generators to mimic an artist's voice.

If the content creator wants to escalate the issue, it could go to court where they'll leave it in the hands of a judge to decide.

"Is it a situation where somebody is mimicking [a] voice, but they're being open about it? Like getting into a parody," Carter pondered.

If so, it’s legal to profit from creating a parody. 

Parody is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule." 

The problem is that it can be hard to define what's parody and what's not because everyone doesn't share the same sense of humor, Carter said. 

For example, the artist behind the fake Jay-Z verse could argue that the song is a parody. 

"Or is it that you're creating a fake and you're trying to pass it off as Jay-Z?" Carter said.  

What's the future of AI laws?

Carter anticipates it will take a few years before new laws are passed that address AI regulation.

The attorney said the bulk of U.S. copyright law went into effect in 1978 and is overdue for a "massive overhaul."

Last month the U.S. Copyright Office launched a new initiative to examine copyright law and policy issues raised by AI.

This includes new registration guidelines where applicants seeking copyright for a work (recordings, visual artwork, etc.) must disclose if they used AI to create their work.

Carter believes discussions on AI laws will continue to develop. But laws won't begin changing until at least 2025.

"I think one of our challenges is we have a presidential election next year. So I think that's going to delay [things]."

Michael Jackson lives on through AI

Country R&B singer Jovon Newman has been intrigued by the flurry of AI-generated songs on TikTok over the last few months.

Newman, who has over 100,000 TikTok fans, was “completely floored” when he heard an AI cover of Ye performing a Morgan Wallen song.

"It threw me off, and I was digging it," Newman of Smyrna said.

The singer-songwriter believes AI will create a new musical lane, similar to how tribute acts are regarded. 

He sees endless possibilities for creators to make dream tracks that allow deceased music icons to team up with living legends like a collab song from the Notorious B.I.G. with Jay-Z. 

There's a new AI cover on YouTube that features Michael Jackson singing on Bruno Mars' "Treasure." It has over 44,000 views.

Lewes singer: ‘AI is scary’

Singer-songwriter Judy Mangini is unsettled by the rise of AI.

The frontwoman for Judy Sings the Blues believes AI has become too sophisticated and will get only smarter.

"AI is scary, in my opinion. I don't think people understand the seriousness of AI in all aspects of our life," Mangini of Lewes reflected. 

The singer's 2022 album, "Come Over Here," made the first-round ballot for a Grammy Award in the category for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

But she doesn't want to live in a world where AI starts taking over the music industry and beyond.

"They're going to be able to create people that look, and sound and act just like us. You're gonna have to determine who's real and who isn't.”

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Country singer Newman believes AI voice filters will help songwriters, especially those who can't sing, make more compelling song pitches to the artists they're writing for.

He expects the government to crack down with AI regulations. But after those details get ironed out, Newman expects AI to become another useful tool for creators.

"If we use it the right way, it can open up doors for anyone," he said. "I'm excited about it."

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Jay-Z's Delaware producer Young Guru sparks AI rights debate