Have you ever thought ‘I want to listen to a song in the voice of my favorite singer?’ Now, we can listen to the cover song without the actual singer singing. This is called an AI cover. Recently, various videos using AI technology like AI covers have become popular on YouTube or short platforms. There are positives to this technology, but some voice concerns. Pharos will examine the double sidedness of AI and look into various opinions of Kyonggi University students on AI technology.

 Recently, AI covers are the most accessible AI technology in our daily lives. AI covers use ‘RVC(Retrieval-based Voice Conversion)’ to create content. RVC is a search based voice conversion technology that can modulate voices by using the actual voice data of the targeted person. This program can change the tone, accent, and pronunciation of voices by analyzing and reconstructing voice data by using AI technology. To create the model, the amount of voice files to be analyzed is about 5~10 minutes of content. Therefore, an ordinary person can easily create creative works related to voices using RVC programs, so what are the advantages and disadvantages of AI covers using RVC technology?

—Advantages—

 First, AI covers can recreate various music freely by combining the voices of the singers that we want to hear. In the case of Korea, videos where celebrities cover the song with their voice began to appear one after another on short platforms, which become popular. The most popular videos are singer Park Jae Jung’s ‘Let’s Say Goodbye’ and girl group New Jeans’ Hype Boy covered by Korean singers Park Hyo Shin, Lim Jae Beom, and Dean. In addition, in an AI music project: Once again, an entertainment program in 2020 was able to reply to the voices of the dead singers again through RVC technology. The video featuring the voice of the dead singer Turtle Man, reached more than 12 million views on YouTube. Many people responded that it was good to see Turtle Man again through high-level AI technology, and the development of such science technology, without malicious intent, was impressive and nice. This technology has become increasingly popular because content can be made easily if there is enough related data, and it shows a high level of completion that is almost no different from the original song sung by a real person.

—Disadvantages—

 AI covers are popular, but does this bring up copyright issues? To figure out the copyright problem of AI cover we need to decide on fair use. 'Fair use' is a special case in which we can use a work without the permission of the copyright holder. For example, there is the partial use for study, research, report, etc. Fair use judgment of AI cover consists of 2 steps. First of all, if AI brings others’ work without permission into a study course, this is validated as an infringement of reproductive rights. However, the unclear and tricky infringement of copyright standard may not necessarily apply to AI’s copyright problem. Next, we need to decide the similarity to the original song and commercial exploitation of the result that AI made with the data it studied using the original song. Let's suppose that an AI cover isn't used commercially and it's recognized that there's a part that reinterpreted the original song. Then in accordance with the freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution, there's a possibility that it can be considered fair use. The rights holders are in conflict with the technology enthusiasts, so it is difficult to legislate such issues. Therefore, from now on a lot of conflict and chaos about the copyright infringement of AI cover videos is expected to occur.

 Pharos did a survey about AI technology and cover songs based on 50 Kyonggi University students to check the accessibility and realistic opinions regarding AI technology.

 Question 1, ‘Have you seen any AI cover videos of celebrities and other public figures using AI technology posted on YouTube and TikTok?,’ out of 50 respondents 84% responded ‘yes.’ The result, is intuitionally showing that most students watched and experienced AI cover video. Moreover, 84% means that AI technology has pervaded in our real life. 

 Next, we asked a question about AI technology use and its purpose with regard to our own lives. Question 2 was, 'Do you have any experience using AI technology(Chat GPT, image composition, voice modulation, etc.)?' Out of 50 respondents 68% respond that they have experience using AI technology. Most of the students who answered ‘yes’ on question 2 said that they used Chat GPT for college assignments. The rest of the respondents answered they used AI technology for Photoshop, research, etc.

 Currently, various positive and concerned voices are arguing about AI development and easy accessibility. With the appearance of Chat GPT, one of the AI technologies, we can get essential information that we really need in the age of the sea of information. Plus, we can have a virtual friend who we could talk to freely about anything. In this way, the enormous development of AI provides us with energy and convenience in our real lives. However, with the appearance of the people who misuse the AI technology, some worry about AI development. AI technology can be misused for criminal reasons, so it causes anxiety to people and destroys the trust between people. Not only the development of AI technology, but in every development and discovery has a double-edged sword exists. Therefore, while enjoying the convenience that developed AI technology brings, we must aim for the correct use of AI technology and media.

79th Reporter • NAM HYE SEUNG • namhyeseung50@gmail.com 

79th Reporter • CHO SEO YUN • jeoyum@gmail.com