Alexa’s New AI Music Feature Sparks Controversy
Amazon has introduced a groundbreaking new feature to its Alexa+ voice assistant, allowing users to create full songs—including lyrics, vocals, and instrumentals—simply by making a request. This innovation comes through a partnership with Suno, an AI music company already facing legal challenges over copyright concerns.
In a blog post, Amazon highlighted the possibilities of the feature: “Turn creative requests into complete songs. Whether it’s a birthday surprise for your partner who loves cats or a rap featuring your child’s favorite cartoon characters, Alexa+ has you covered.”
Music Industry Pushback
Despite the excitement around AI-generated music, Amazon’s move has sparked backlash from the music industry. Suno is currently being sued by Universal Music Group, Sony, and Warner for allegedly using copyrighted recordings without permission to train its AI models. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has accused Suno of copyright infringement “on an almost unimaginable scale,” with potential damages reaching $150,000 per copyrighted work.
Amazon’s partnership with Suno is particularly controversial given its recent collaboration with Universal Music Group to combat unauthorized AI-generated content. Additionally, Amazon has invested $8 billion in AI giant Anthropic, which is also facing copyright lawsuits from music publishers.
Legal and Ethical Questions
Suno’s co-founder and CEO, Mikey Shulman, has defended the company’s practices, arguing that its AI model operates within legal boundaries. However, in a court filing, Suno admitted its AI “presumably” trained on millions of copyrighted songs. Shulman further fueled the debate by stating on a podcast that many people find music creation “not really enjoyable,” sparking criticism from artists and music enthusiasts.
The Future of AI in Music
Amazon’s latest AI expansion raises pressing questions about the future of music creation, copyright enforcement, and artistic integrity. With Alexa+ now capable of generating music, the industry must navigate the balance between technological innovation and protecting musicians’ rights.
Whether this AI-powered shift will redefine music consumption or ignite a new copyright war remains to be seen. One thing is certain—Alexa isn’t just playing music anymore; it’s making it.