Lo-fi chill music first gained mainstream popularity through the viral success of the Lofi Girl channels. Today, there are thousands of imitators offering similar mellow, jazz-infused beats. But how many of these channels actually feature music created by human artists?
TikTok music influencer Derrick Gee recently raised questions about the lo-fi channel “what is ?,” which streams lo-fi jazz instrumental mixes. The channel’s videos, typically about an hour long, provide a Linktree to playlists on major streaming platforms but don’t credit any specific artists. “When I looked a little deeper, I found myself trying to solve a mystery,” Gee explains in a video, “and it opened up a much larger question about the future of music.”
Gee suggests the channel’s content may be entirely AI-generated. Using Suno—a generative AI music tool—he recreated a similar lo-fi mix by inputting the phrase “chill lo-fi instrumental.” The resemblance was uncanny. Evidence points to the channel leveraging AI: in one of its early videos, a comment noted, “This sounds like music made by Suno,” which the channel’s creator liked. Mentions of AI in the comments have since been removed.
Despite only launching in September 2024, “what is ?” already boasts over 130,000 subscribers. Its most popular video, titled “Sip,” has amassed over two million views. While the channel includes tracklists in its video descriptions, no individual artists are credited—a stark contrast to channels like Odysseus, which meticulously credits artists and links to their Bandcamp pages.
The rise of AI-generated lo-fi music raises questions about the genre’s authenticity and future. Lo-fi music’s appeal lies in its repetitive, soothing rhythms, often consumed while studying or relaxing. Yet many human artists invest significant effort in crafting these tracks, weaving personal creativity into every beat.
YouTube’s policies currently allow for monetization of AI-generated content, provided it doesn’t mislead viewers into thinking it depicts real-life events. With countless tutorials on how to generate lo-fi music using AI tools, the platform is likely to see an influx of such channels. This trend could overshadow the work of genuine artists, transforming lo-fi music into a battleground between human creativity and algorithmic efficiency.
For now, “what is ?” remains an intriguing case study—a reflection of a rapidly evolving music landscape. Whether AI-dominated lo-fi music will ultimately enrich the genre or dilute its artistry remains to be seen.