The song “I Run” was released by Harrison Walker (also known as Haven) was released this year and went viral on TikTok. It features vocals from an unnamed female artist, which has been the cause of AI usage allegations. Some people have noticed similarities between the female vocals and those of English singer Jorja Smith. Before these allegations came to light, “I Run” had been due to chart.
According to NME, Smith’s Record Label, FAMM, called out the song for cloning Smith’s voice by using AI that was trained on her discography. In statement uploaded to FAMM’s Instagram profile, they claim that “[Walker] used AI to make his voice sound like Jorja’s and had used Jorja’s name (without permission) suggesting to the public that it was actually Jorja singing.” They then proceed to discuss the need for AI to be credited when it was used, so listeners can make an informed decision about who or what they choose to support.
Currently, “I Run” has been removed from streaming services and radio. Also, Walker didn’t receive any of the Spotify royalties that “I Run” had earned while it was still on the app. This copyright legal battle is now sparking discussions of what is acceptable AI usage in the arts. AI has been a resource in music production more and more in recent years; however, it has also made it easier for potential plagiarism issues to arise. Modern society has yet to figure out how AI should fit into different areas of life, as it still remains a controversial aspect of the world today.
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