TikTok testing out new AI Song tool to create tracks

TikTok has launched a testing phase for a feature currently known as AI Song on its platform, which utilizes a large language model to generate lyrics.

As initially reported by The Verge, TikTok users on the ByteDance-owned social media platform have reported the launch of a new tool in the past week. The tool doesn’t create music, but focuses on generating lyrics using a large language model called BLOOM, which stands for BigScience Large Open-science Open-access Multilingual Language Model. Users can write out lyrics in the text area when they are creating posts. TikTok will then have AI Song as an option to add sounds to the post, which can also be selected based on what music genre the user wants.

First spotted last week, the new feature is only available to a limited amount of users on TikTok. The results from the users currently experimenting with the feature are so far not the best, with many being out of tune even with auto-tune vocals such as Krist Leilani’s video. It is unknown at the moment when or if AI Song will roll out to more users. TikTok also stated they may change the name of the feature at some point in the future. The new AI Song feature comes as TikTok tries to cement itself a place in the music industry. 

Last year, the platform launched a free-to-use music production app called Ripple, featuring a Melody to Song generator and a virtual recording studio. The Melody to Song feature allows users to input a melody by singing or humming directly into the app, with Ripple expanding the melody by generating an instrumental accompaniment in various genres. Additionally, ByteDance launched machine-learning-driven music-making apps such as Mawf, which re-renders audio signals using machine-learned models of musical instruments, and Sponge Band, a music creation app in China featuring AI tools for audio effects and background music improvement.