US state of Tennessee has made history by becoming the first in the United States to enact legislation safeguarding musicians from potential exploitation by artificial intelligence (AI).
An audio mixer. Image credit: Pixnio, CC0 Public Domain
Governor Bill Lee signed the bill, known as the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act, into law on Thursday.
This legislative move is significant within the music industry, particularly considering the recent rapid advancements in generative AI technology. While AI’s presence in music creation traces back to the 1950s, recent strides in AI, including the emergence of digital pop stars produced by robots, have sparked debates regarding legal and ethical implications.
The proliferation of generative AI has empowered many producers to autonomously generate original content, including music compositions. However, artists often utilize simpler AI technologies to enhance their artistic output.
The ELVIS Act modernizes Tennessee’s personal rights protection laws to include safeguards for the voices of songwriters, performers, and professionals within the music industry from potential misuse by AI. The Tennessee music sector, renowned for its cultural and economic contributions, employs over 61,617 individuals, adds $5.8 billion to the state’s GDP, and hosts over 4,500 music venues.
Prior to the ELVIS Act, Tennessee’s legislation primarily protected individuals’ names, images, and likenesses but failed to address the specific challenges posed by personalized generative AI cloning models. These models enable human impersonation and facilitate the creation of unauthorized content using the image and voice of others, which means legislative updates are necessary to mitigate potential risks.
Written by Vytautas Valinskas