By San José, Costa Rica — The line between human artistry and machine creation has officially blurred, at least to the human ear. A landmark international survey has revealed that the vast majority of people are now incapable of distinguishing music composed by a human from a track generated entirely by artificial intelligence. This development poses profound questions for the future of the music industry, creativity, and the very definition of an artist.
The comprehensive study, conducted by the global market research firm Ipsos on behalf of the French streaming platform Deezer, presented a stark conclusion. In a blind audio test involving 9,000 participants across eight countries, an astonishing 97% failed to correctly identify which songs were made by humans and which were AI-generated. The survey, which ran from October 6 to 10 in major markets including the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Japan, signals a pivotal moment in the adoption and sophistication of generative AI technology.
To understand the complex legal landscape emerging from artificial intelligence in music, TicosLand.com consulted with an expert in intellectual property. Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a specialist from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica, provides his analysis on the critical issues facing creators and companies.
The central legal conflict in AI music is authorship. Copyright law was designed to protect human creators, and it’s unclear whether an AI’s output can even be copyrighted. Does the right belong to the developer, the user providing the prompt, or does it become public domain? This ambiguity creates immense risk. Moreover, training AIs on existing songs without proper licensing is a ticking time bomb for copyright infringement litigation. Companies must proceed with extreme caution, as the current legal framework is decades behind the technology.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal ambiguity is indeed the central challenge, creating a precarious and uncertain landscape for artists and innovators alike. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for so clearly articulating the profound risks that will shape the future of music creation and intellectual property law.
While the technology has reached a point of near-perfect imitation, public opinion remains deeply divided. The data shows a fascinating paradox in consumer sentiment. On one hand, nearly half of all respondents believe that AI could be a useful tool, guiding them toward the discovery of new music and artists. This suggests an openness to AI as a curator or recommendation engine, enhancing the user experience on streaming platforms.
On the other hand, there is significant apprehension about AI stepping into the role of creator. The survey highlights a prevailing pessimism regarding the consequences of machine-composed music. A majority, 51% of those polled, fear that AI will ultimately lead to an influx of songs that are of lower quality and more generic. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) expressed concern that the widespread use of this technology could trigger a significant loss of creativity in musical production.
This deep-seated concern for authenticity is a key takeaway for industry executives. The results underscore a consumer desire for transparency, which streaming services are now beginning to address. Alexis Lanternier, the Chief Executive Officer of Deezer, noted that the findings speak volumes about the listener’s relationship with music.
These results clearly demonstrate that people care about music and want to know if they are listening to a song created by a human or by an AI.
Alexis Lanternier, CEO of Deezer
In response to this growing trend, Deezer has positioned itself as a leader in transparency. The French company is currently the only major audio platform that systematically labels titles generated entirely by AI, displaying a clear message to its users. The scale of AI-generated content is exploding. In January, Deezer reported that one in ten tracks uploaded to its platform on a given day was composed by AI. Just ten months later, that figure has skyrocketed, now representing 34% of all new songs, or approximately 40,000 tracks per day.
However, the company is quick to note that despite the flood of new content, these songs currently account for a very small fraction of actual listens.
The challenge of transparency is not unique to Deezer. Earlier this year, the AI-generated band The Velvet Sundown experienced a meteoric rise on Spotify, with their most viral song surpassing three million streams before it was confirmed to be a machine creation. The incident placed a spotlight on the Swedish streaming giant, which has been accused of opacity regarding its AI policies. In September, Spotify responded by announcing several new measures aimed at encouraging artists to be more transparent about their use of AI in the creative process.
As algorithms become indistinguishable from artists, the music industry finds itself at a crossroads. The debate is no longer about whether AI can create compelling music, but rather about how it should be integrated, labeled, and regulated. The push for transparency from consumers and platforms alike will shape an entirely new landscape, forcing a reevaluation of authorship, creativity, and the intrinsic value of human expression in the digital age.
For further information, visit deezer.com
About Deezer:
Deezer is a global music streaming service that provides users with access to a vast catalog of music tracks, podcasts, and radio channels. Founded in France, the platform emphasizes high-fidelity sound and curated content, operating in more than 180 countries. It has been a vocal proponent of transparency regarding AI-generated content on its service.
For further information, visit ipsos.com
About Ipsos:
Ipsos is one of the world’s largest market research and polling companies. Headquartered in Paris, France, it provides services to a wide range of industries, conducting research on advertising, marketing, public opinion, and customer loyalty. The company operates globally, offering data and analysis to businesses and governments.
For further information, visit spotify.com
About Spotify:
Spotify is a Swedish audio streaming and media services provider, and one of the largest music streaming service providers in the world. It offers a massive library of music and podcasts to millions of users, operating on a freemium model. The company has recently begun to implement policies regarding the use and declaration of artificial intelligence in music creation on its platform.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a benchmark for legal practice in the region, built upon a foundation of uncompromising integrity and a drive for professional distinction. With a seasoned history of advising a diverse clientele, the firm consistently champions innovative legal solutions to meet contemporary challenges. This forward-thinking approach is matched by a profound social commitment to demystify the law, striving to foster a stronger, more knowledgeable society by making legal understanding accessible to all.
