Tag: YouTube

Prestige Awards Best Tech Platform Ireland 25/26 winner

Just a small announcemnt to thank the guys at Prestige Awards to say thanks for awarding us best tech platform winner of 2025/2026 which came as a surprise to us.

At techbuzzireland we strive to bring real hands on reviews with context real images and videos and the best tech news suited to us and over the years it has been hard work from starting out till where we are now today getting your news and reviews seen all around the world and we hope to keep going for several more years yet and brining more exciting products which of course we have some in right now, March is a huge tech month for new products and we cant wait to show you.

Stay tuned and also check out our YouTube for more and a big thanks from the team past and present.

Gemini app: Create custom music tracks with Lyria 3

Since launching the Gemini app, they built tools to encourage creative expression through images and video. Today, Gemini is taking the next step: custom music generation. Lyria 3, Google DeepMind’s latest generative music model, is rolling out today in the Gemini app. Just describe an idea or upload a photo, like a comical R&B slow jam about a sock finding their match” and in a matter of seconds, Gemini will translate it into a high-quality, catchy track. To push the creative envelope further, you can even ask Gemini to take inspiration from something you upload. See more below.

Lyria 3 improves on audio generation from the previous model version in three important ways: 

  1. No need to provide your own lyrics! They’ll be generated for you based on your prompt.

  2. You have more creative control over elements like style, vocals and tempo you want.

  3. You can create more realistic and musically complex tracks. 


Here’s how you can use it:

  • Text to tracks: Describe a specific genre, mood, inside joke, or memory to create unique tracks with lyrics or instrumental audio that fits your vibe. “Create a track about my favorite meal my mom used to make, it was made of rice, plantains and beans. Use an Afrobeats vibe and the singer should sound West African.” 

  • From photos and videos to track: Upload a photo or video and watch Gemini use the content to compose a track with lyrics that fit the mood perfectly. “Use these photos to create a track about my dog Duncan on a hike in the woods.” 


The Gemini app creates 30-second tracks with custom cover art generated by Nano Banana. This makes it easy to quickly share with friends by downloading or simply clicking the share link. The goal of these tracks isn’t to create a musical masterpiece, but rather to give you a fun, unique way to express yourself.

Creators can also explore Lyria 3 on YouTube’s Dream Track. Available in the U.S. and now rolling out to YouTube creators in other countries, Lyria 3 will enhance the quality of each unique Shorts soundtrack. Whether it’s creating a lyrical verse or a vibey backing track, being able to better customize the soundtrack will take creators’ Shorts to the next level.

New audio verification capabilities 

All tracks generated in the Gemini app are embedded with SynthID, our imperceptible watermark for identifying Google AI-generated content. We are also giving you more tools to help identify AI content, broadening our verification capabilities in the Gemini app to include audio. Simply upload a file and ask if it was generated using Google AI, and Gemini will check for SynthID and use its own reasoning to return a response.

Our commitment to developing generative AI responsibly 

Since we first launched Lyria in 2023, we’ve sought to develop this technology responsibly in collaboration with the music community. We’ve learned a lot through these collaborations and our experiments, like Music AI Sandbox, and have been very mindful of copyright and partner agreements as we’ve trained Lyria 3. 


Music generation with Lyria 3 is designed for original expression, not for mimicking existing artists. If your prompt names a specific artist, Gemini will take this as broad creative inspiration and create a track that shares a similar style or mood. We also have filters in place to check outputs against existing content. We recognize that our approach might not be foolproof, so you can report content that may violate your rights or the rights of others. Additionally, in order to use our products, users must adhere to our Terms of Service and Gen AI prohibited use policies, which prohibit violations of others’ intellectual property and privacy rights. 


Lyria 3 is available in the Gemini app for all users 18+ in English, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese, with plans to expand quality and coverage of more languages. And Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra subscribers will enjoy higher limits. Our goal with music generation in the Gemini app is to help you add a fun, custom soundtrack to your daily life. Try it out today at gemini.google.com. 

YouTube expands parental controls in Ireland and beyond

Today, YouTube announced a new set of tools and content standards designed to give parents more control over their teen’s viewing experience. New research also reveals that 77% of EU parents using YouTube’s supervised accounts agree the content their child views is age-appropriate, and 73% agree the tools give them confidence in a safer digital environment for their child.

Dr. Garth Graham, Global Head of YouTube Health, said:

“We believe in protecting kids in the digital world, not from the digital world. That’s why providing effective, built-in tools is so essential, as parents play a critical role in setting the rules for their family’s online experiences.”

“After feedback from parents and guidance from independent experts, we’re equipping families with even more tools and protections that are right for them. This builds on a decade of investments to create a healthy experience for young people on YouTube.”

Key updates shared in a new YouTube blog post include:

  • Additional controls for mindful teen viewing: Parents can now help teens be even more intentional about how they watch, with a control to set the amount of time spent scrolling Shorts. And soon, they will also have the option to set the timer to zero – an industry-first that gives parents flexibility to, for example, set the Shorts feed limit to zero when they want their teen to use YouTube to focus on homework, and change it to 60 minutes during a long car trip to be entertained. Parents will also be able to set custom Bedtime and Take a Break reminders, building on the existing default-on wellbeing protections for teens.

  • Making it even simpler to get the right experience for the right age: A new sign-up process will make it easier for parents to create a new kid account and switch between family accounts in the mobile app, depending on who’s watching with just a few taps. This makes it easier to ensure that everyone in the family is in the right viewing experience with the content settings and recommendations of age-appropriate content they actually want to watch.

  • A blueprint for high-quality teen content: YouTube is introducing new principles to steer teens toward age-appropriate and enriching content. Developed with the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA and supported by experts from University College London, the APA and Boston Children’s Hospital, these principles will guide YouTube’s recommendation system to raise high-quality videos from creators in Ireland and beyond.

Alongside the new high quality principles for teens, YouTube unveiled a Creator Guide, developed in

partnership with the streaming service’s Youth & Families Advisory Committee and supported by Save the Children International.

Rebecca Smith, Global Head of Child Protection, Save the Children International, said:

“We are pleased to partner with YouTube on the launch of their new Creator Guide, which equips content creators with the knowledge and tools to stay informed, educated and safe online. With the help of this guide, not only can creators make the most out of their own digital experience, but they can support fellow creators as well. This initiative reflects YouTube and Save the Children’s shared commitment to fostering a safer digital environment for all.”

Professor Peter Fonagy, Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at UCL, said: “The mental health of children and young people is a global concern, and in the digital age the content teens encounter online can have both positive and negative impacts. These YouTube Teen Quality Principles give creators a practical, research-informed roadmap for making videos that are developmentally appropriate, emotionally safe, and genuinely supportive of young people. UCL was delighted to partner on this programme to bring evidence-based insights on adolescent development, helping ensure creators understand their wider responsibility to help teens thrive while minimising potential harm.”

These updates will be rolling out starting today and will expand globally over the coming months.

New YouTube/Ipsos research: A survey conducted by Ipsos for YouTube in August 2025, found that:

  • In the EU, 77% of survey respondents who are parents and have used YouTube supervised account tools said they agree that the content their child views on their supervised YouTube account is appropriate for their age.

  • In the EU, 73% of survey respondents who are parents and have used YouTube supervised account tools said they agree that YouTube’s supervision tools give them confidence that their child is accessing a safer and more controlled digital environment.

Creating For Teens on YouTube: Teens often look at creators for guidance as they grow and navigate the world. Together with global experts, we created a new guide of principles to help you make content that’s responsible, fun, and positive while avoiding harmful qualities so teens can build confidence, connection, and community online. These are the High Quality Principles included in the Creator Guide, to inspire teens to explore, learn, and feel good about themselves:

  • Joy, Fun And Entertainment: Show humor and warmth that lift teens’ moods like a day-in-the- life video or funny, self- accepting outtakes.

  • Curiosity and Inspiration: Encourage exploration through creative tutorials, behind-the-scenes demos, or new hobbies that are easy to try.

  • Deepening Interests and Perspectives: Create deeper dives into subjects teens love, like music, gaming, or fashion, and show process, not just outcomes.

  • Building Life Skills and Experiences: Offer relatable guidance for real-life moments, like teamwork or budgeting, to help them prepare for the future.

  • Credible Information that Supports Well-being: Share accurate, age-appropriate information. Use trusted sources and avoid spreading misinformation.

The Creator Guide also includes a series of top tips for creators to be positive online role models. These include:

  • Set the tone for your community: Speak up against hate, avoid unproductive conflict, and challenge misinformation, while distinguishing between fact and opinion.

  • Create a safer space for everyone:  Encourage teens to revisit their privacy settings, curate their feeds, and unfollow accounts that harm their well-being.

  • Support teen resilience and well-being: Whether it’s from pressures to succeed, to look a certain way, or to fit in with their peers, teens can face an overwhelming amount of stress, leading to burnout and other negative outcomes. Your content can give teens the right tools to build resilience and combat stress.

  • Help teens thrive on and offline: Your impact as a creator doesn’t stop when teens log off. By showing creative ways to connect with friends and family and prioritising healthy habits, you remind them that balance matters.

Teen Creation Guidelines_2-Pager

Dowdetector by Ookla: Largest Outages of 2025

In 2025, digital services proved both indispensable and fragile. This year’s largest outages were defined by platform-level disruptions, particularly across video, gaming, and communication platforms, that impacted millions of users. However, given how many individual platforms rely on the same few cloud providers and core systems, the role of centralized infrastructure also played a key role, demonstrating how a single point of failure can still cause disruption to cascade across multiple services simultaneously.

Downdetector® data from 2025 Ookla could analyze millions of user reports and identify the largest website and service outages of the year.

The World’s Biggest Outages of 2025

2025 saw a combination of major outages across gaming, streaming, and social media services, but none were more impactful than the cloud services outages that affected companies across the globe. These large-scale incidents underscored how failures in core infrastructure can ripple outward to millions of users. Here is a look at the largest global outages of 2025, according to Downdetector data.

 

In Europe:

 

  • PlayStation Network global issue topped the EU list with 1.7 million reports.
  • Snapchat saw the second-highest outage activity in the region with 989,559 reports submitted by users.
  • Vodafone’s UK-wide internet outage generated 833,211 reports.
  • WhatsApp caused significant disruption for its users with 621,763 reports.
  • Spotify’s outage recorded 468,334 reports, making it a major non-video streaming event.
  • Odido experienced, within 10 days, two separate outages that totaled 357,685 reports (June 15th) and 382,003 reports (June 25th).

See more 

New research reveals that 75% of Irish teenagers use YouTube for education with 84% of teachers using YouTube content in their lessons

New research reveals YouTube as the leading platform for kids education across Europe. The study, conducted by Livity on behalf of YouTube, explored how children aged 13-18 use different platforms for learning.

Video content plays a central role in the daily digital lives of teens across Europe, helping unlock creativity, discovery and learning. Livity’s research, part of the upcoming “Future Report” from Google and YouTube, asked over 7,000 children aged 13-18 in seven countries across Europe, including Ireland, how they use digital platforms to learn for both school and fun.

Of those surveyed, 72% of teens said they watch video content at least a couple of times a week to help with learning for school or fun.

In Ireland, 75% said they use YouTube to learn something new for school (significantly higher than TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or other platforms). 75% also use YouTube to learn something new for fun or outside of school – again, more than any other platform.

In qualitative research conducted by independent youth consultancy Livity, teens expressed the joy they found in discovering new interests and passions through video. Whether it’s exploring important topics around the world or looking up a video to help with algebra homework, YouTube is a place for them to learn, explore their passions and express themselves.

A separate study by Oxford Economics spoke to over 10,700 parents and 2,400 teachers across the EU27 and the UK about how they view and use YouTub. The research shows that parents and teachers also turn to YouTube to help kids learn, build creativity and understand the world around them:

 

  • 80% of parents who use YouTube agree that YouTube, or YouTube Kids, provides quality content for their children’s learning and/or entertainment

  • 71% feel confident in their ability to guide their child on how to use the platform responsibly

  • 84% of teachers who use YouTube report that they have used YouTube content in their lessons and/or assignments

  • 67% of teachers who use YouTube agree that YouTube helps increase student engagement.

 

Responding to the reports, Dr Garth Graham, Director and Global Head of Healthcare at YouTube said: “We recognise the important part we play in young people’s lives – so it’s great to see YouTube recognised as a place for young people to learn and explore their passions. We work closely and continuously with child development and digital wellbeing experts to make sure YouTube is an asset for kids – with their safety, privacy and wellbeing at the forefront”.

Pedro Pina, Head of YouTube Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “Age-appropriate, enriching and engaging content is helping kids, parents and teachers across the EU: helping inspire curiosity, imagination and celebrate diverse perspectives. YouTube is one of the first platforms to offer experiences designed specifically for young people. Our products for youth, YouTube Kids and Supervised Experiences, are developed under guidance from independent experts and reach over 100 million active logged-in and logged-out users every month.

YouTube Kids is a separate app designed specifically for children, where age-appropriate content, smart filters and parental guidance come together to create an appropriate, enriching and more controlled experience for your child; while Supervised Experiences – made for tweens and teens – gives parents control to select content that limits the videos and music that children can play, including setting suggestions in line with their age, as well as to view and change the features your child can use, their default account settings, and the ads they see.

Appeals Centre Europe’s First Transparency Report Shines Light on Social Media Mistakes

The Appeals Centre’s first Transparency Report (covering November 2024 to August 2025) highlights the urgent need for independent review of social media decisions. The report shows that where platforms make mistakes, people pay the price: from unjust account suspensions cutting people off from family and friends, to vital health information being removed, or hate speech against vulnerable communities being left online.

More than three-quarters of our decisions overturned Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube – either because we disagreed with their decision after reviewing the content, or because the platform did not send us the content and we ruled in the user’s favour. The majority of these decisions promoted freedom of expression by recommending that a user’s content or account be restored. 

Across the EU people are standing up to social media companies by challenging their decisions:

  • We received nearly 10,000 disputes about decisions by Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
  • These came from every single EU country, covering content in more than 50 languages.
  • Of these, more than 3,300 disputes were within our scope, for which we have already issued 1,500+ decisions, with the rest expected in the coming weeks.
  • Since November we have expanded to account suspensions and new platforms (Instagram, Threads, Pinterest) to allow more people to use our service.
  • We received the most eligible disputes from Poland, followed by France and Italy.
  • We saw an upwards trend in case numbers, with the number of eligible disputes received increasing by more than 500% from December 2024 to August 2025.

Under EU law (the Digital Services Act), social media platforms must engage in good faith with dispute settlement bodies like the Appeals Centre and tell their users about this new option.

  • Today, however, dispute settlement bodies are Europe’s best-kept-secret. Most people don’t know we exist and some platforms seemingly want to keep it that way. This needs to change. Social media platforms should clearly tell their users about this new option on a dedicated help-page and as part of their internal appeals process.
  • More generally, co-operation with platforms has been mixed. Progress with YouTube, in particular, has been very slow. We have received no content from the company, meaning that – by the end of August – we had made decisions on just 29 of the more than 340 eligible YouTube disputes submitted to us. As such, we are concerned that people and organisations using YouTube in the EU are being denied meaningful access to out-of-court dispute settlement.

The CEO of Appeals Centre Europe, Thomas Hughes, said:

“Decisions by social media companies have very real consequences: from denying people a say in important debates, to cutting off a crucial source of income. But – as our Transparency Report shows – they don’t always get it right. If you’re in the EU, you can challenge the platform’s decision free-of-charge to the Appeals Centre and get an expert, impartial review.”

Appeals Centre Europe Starts Reviewing Social Media Account Suspensions

From today, if your account is suspended by Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube – and you are in the EU – you can challenge the decision to Appeals Centre Europe. 

Every day, people find that their social media account has been suspended. So often these  decisions are automated, and users are not told what they have done wrong.  

Being banned from social media affects people’s lives: from losing touch with friends, to  losing precious memories and – in some cases – cutting off a crucial source of income.  

Recently, however, the EU’s Digital Services Act has given people a new right to refer  account suspensions to certified, independent bodies like the Appeals Centre.  

A New Way to Challenge Unfair Account Suspensions 

If you are in the EU and Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube has suspended your  account, you can challenge the decision to the Appeals Centre free-of-charge. If we do not  think you broke the rules, your account may be restored. 

  1. Click on this link and create an account on the Appeals Centre website.  2. Start a new dispute in our online portal.  
  2. Select “The platform suspended an account that I want restored” 4. Provide basic information, like your username and when your account was suspended.  5. Submit your dispute.  
  3. We request the last piece of content you posted which supposedly broke the rules.  7. Our expert team make a decision and send it to you and the platform. 8. While our decisions are non-binding, platforms are required – under EU law – to  engage in good faith with the Appeals Centre. 

In addition to account suspensions, you can also challenge a social media platform’s  decision to remove your content, or their decision to leave harmful content online that you  think should be taken down.  

What’s Next?  

So far this year, we’ve issued our first decisions, appointed new Directors from across the  EU, co-founded a new network of dispute settlement bodies and expanded our scope to  cover Instagram. This summer, we will publish our first transparency report – with new insights into the cases we have received and the decisions we have made. We will also  expand to other social media platforms later this year.  

The CEO of Appeals Centre Europe, Thomas Hughes said: 

“Losing your social media account is more than an inconvenience, it affects people’s lives in  fundamental ways. Yet – for too long – those with suspended accounts have been stuck  between a rock and a hard place. Before now you could either appeal the decision to the  platform – which often sticks with its original decision – or go to court at great expense.  

Today, however, there’s a new option which is independent of platforms and free-of-charge:  Appeals Centre Europe. So, if your account has been unfairly suspended, do something  about it. Submit a dispute to the Appeals Centre and make your voice heard.”  

10 Most Popular Games in Ireland to Try in 2025

Gaming in Ireland is thriving, with the Irish gaming market valued at €637 million in revenue by the end of 2024 and projected to hit €813 million by 2027. Over half of Irish adults (more than 50%) actively play online games, a figure that continues to grow each year. Ireland is also embracing the global eSports boom, with the industry estimated to reach $16.6 billion in 2024. 

The most popular games, from massive open-world titles to cutting-edge multiplayer experiences, dominate streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch, where Fortnite alone garners over 13 million weekly viewer hours.

Ireland has a strong gaming culture, influenced by both local sports games and global blockbusters. From the first Gaelic football console game in nearly two decades to globally anticipated RPGs, these titles reflect the diversity and creativity driving Ireland’s gaming scene. 

1. Fortnite

A global powerhouse, Fortnite remains a must-play title in Ireland. Its constant updates, collaborative events, and diverse gameplay modes keep it fresh for millions of players. With over 13 million weekly viewer hours on Twitch and YouTube, it’s clear that this battle royale game is here to stay in 2025.

2. Apex Legends

Renowned for its fast-paced, squad-based battles, Apex Legends is a top choice among Irish eSports players. The game’s seamless combination of character-driven gameplay and intense multiplayer competition draws millions globally and remains a favourite in Ireland.

3. Gonzo’s Quest Megaways

This game continues the tradition of the original Gonzo’s Quest by adding the Megaways feature, which greatly boosts the opportunities to win with each spin. Players can enjoy up to 117,649 ways to win, with cascading reels that allow for multiple wins from a single spin. The game features an adventurous theme where players help Gonzo search for treasure.

With iGaming becoming an integral part of the gaming landscape, platforms showcasing the best online casinos provide a reliable way for players to explore diverse games while ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. Casino expert Elias Malo curates this list to highlight safe UK casinos. By offering tools and guides, players can enjoy the thrill of gaming responsibly, balancing entertainment with security.

4. EA Sports FC™ 25

As the successor to the FIFA series, EA Sports FC™ 25 combines lifelike football mechanics with expansive career and multiplayer modes. Irish football fans will appreciate the inclusion of international leagues and the realistic gameplay that keeps the franchise at the top of sports gaming.

5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

For fans of first-person shooters, Modern Warfare III offers a mix of gripping campaigns and competitive online modes. With its tactical gameplay and realistic graphics, the game continues to dominate Irish gaming communities.

6. Silent Hill 2 Remake

Horror enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the Silent Hill 2 Remake. Known for its atmospheric storytelling, the revamped version of this classic psychological horror game is set to become a top pick for Irish gamers in 2025.

7. Gaelic Football 24

The long-awaited Gaelic Football 24, developed by Belfast-based Buck Eejit Games, marks the return of Ireland’s national sport to modern gaming consoles. The game features Ireland’s 32 county teams, a creation suite for customising clubs, and advanced motion-capture technology for realistic gameplay. This is a historic release for Irish gaming fans eager to relive GAA’s excitement digitally.

8. Mega Moolah

Produced by Micro Gaming, Mega Moolah is known as one of the most famous progressive jackpot slots, Mega Moolah has made headlines for its record-breaking payouts. The game features 25 paylines and a safari theme with various animal symbols. Players aim to land matching symbols across these paylines while also triggering the jackpot feature.

9. Dragon’s Dogma 2

Fans of RPGs will appreciate the deep combat mechanics and storytelling in Dragon’s Dogma 2. With customisable characters and a sprawling fantasy world, this sequel offers countless hours of adventure.

10. Minecraft

The ever-popular Minecraft remains a staple among Irish gamers of all ages. Its endless creativity and regular updates ensure it stays relevant, providing both casual and dedicated players with limitless opportunities for exploration.

Gaming Trends in 2025

Not only has gaming become a cornerstone of Ireland’s entertainment culture but 35% of gamers in Ireland say that online gaming is good for their mental health. 

Mobile gaming continues to lead the charge in terms of gaming trends, probably because it offers easy accessibility and on-the-go engagement for players of all ages. eSports has also gained traction, with competitive gaming tournaments captivating audiences and fostering a sense of community among players. 

Slot games featuring Irish mythology and folklore are a big hit among local players. Titles inspired by leprechauns, Celtic legends, and St. Patrick’s Day themes resonate with Irish gamers and provide a fun cultural connection.

With 34% of UK gamers using mobile devices as their primary gaming platform, mobile iGaming is on the rise. The convenience of accessing slot games and poker tournaments on the go is drawing in a new generation of Irish players.

The growing eSports market influences iGaming trends, with some platforms introducing betting opportunities in major tournaments. Irish players interested in competitive gaming are increasingly engaging with this crossover.

YouTube Announces AI Music Principles And Launches YouTube Music AI Incubator

Today YouTube published a first ever set of AI music principles and unveiled the YouTube Music AI Incubator, kicking off with artists, songwriters and producers from Universal Music Group. YouTube’s three fundamental AI music principles are rooted in its commitment to collaborate  with the music industry alongside bold and responsible innovation in the space.

YouTube CEO, Neal Mohan, shared the platform’s AI music principles and his vision for how the framework will enhance creative expression while also protecting artistic integrity on the platform. The principles include:

 

  • Principle #1: AI is here, and we will embrace it responsibly together with our music partners. As generative AI unlocks ambitious new forms of creativity, YouTube and our partners across the music industry agree to build on our long collaborative history and responsibly embrace this rapidly advancing field.  Our goal is to partner with the music industry to empower creativity in a way that enhances our joint pursuit of responsible innovation.

 

  • Principle #2: AI is ushering in a new age of creative expression, but it must include appropriate protections and unlock opportunities for music partners who decide to participate. We’re continuing our strong track record of protecting the creative work of artists on YouTube. We’ve made massive investments over the years in the systems that help balance the interests of copyright holders with those of the creative community on YouTube.

 

  • Principle #3: We’ve built an industry-leading trust and safety organization and content policies. We will scale those to meet the challenges of AI. We spent years investing in the policies and trust and safety teams that help protect the YouTube community, and we’re also applying these safeguards to AI-generated content. Generative AI systems may amplify current challenges like trademark and copyright abuse, misinformation, spam, and more. But AI can also be used to identify this sort of content, and we’ll continue to invest in the AI-powered technology that helps us protect our community of viewers, creators, artists and songwriters–from Content ID, to policies and detection and enforcement systems that keep our platform safe behind the scenes. And we commit to scaling this work even further.

 

In a rare guest YouTube blog, Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge – who helped shape the principles –  shared his vision for an artist centric approach to generative AI and how partnering with YouTube would best position the music industry for success as this technology continues to develop. Excerpts from the blog post include:

 

  • “Our challenge and opportunity as an industry is to establish effective tools, incentives and rewards – as well as rules of the road – that enable us to limit AI’s potential downside while promoting its promising upside. If we strike the right balance, I believe AI will amplify human imagination and enrich musical creativity in extraordinary new ways.”

  • “Our enduring faith in human creativity is the bedrock of Universal Music Group’s collaboration with YouTube on the future of AI.  Central to our collective vision is taking steps to build a safe, responsible and profitable ecosystem of music and video—one where artists and songwriters have the ability to maintain their creative integrity, their power to choose, and to be compensated fairly.”

  • “Today, our partnership is building on that foundation with a shared commitment to lead responsibly, as outlined in YouTube’s AI principles, where Artificial Intelligence is built to empower human creativity, and not the other way around.  AI will never replace human creativity because it will always lack the essential spark that drives the most talented artists to do their best work, which is intention. From Mozart to The Beatles to Taylor Swift, genius is never random.”

 

Today’s announcement also introduced YouTube’s AI Music Incubator, a program that will bring together some of today’s most innovative artists, songwriters, and producers to help inform YouTube’s approach to generative AI in music. The incubator will kick off with a genre-spanning cohort of creatives from Universal Music Group, that includes Anitta, Björn Ulvaeus, d4vd, Don Was, Juanes, Louis Bell, Max Richter, Rodney Jerkins, Rosanne Cash, Ryan Tedder, Yo Gotti, and the Estate of Frank Sinatra, amongst others.

 

  • Björn Ulvaeus shares: “While some may find my decision controversial, I’ve joined this group with an open mind and purely out of curiosity about how an AI model works and what it could be capable of in a creative process. I believe that the more I understand, the better equipped I’ll be to advocate for and to help protect the rights of my fellow human creators.”

 

  • Juanes shares: “Music is fundamental to the human experience – culturally and personally. For artists, our music is part of who we are. Given music’s role, artists must play a central role in helping to shape the future of this technology.  I’m looking forward to working with Google and YouTube as part of this influential group of UMG artists to assure that AI develops responsibly as a tool to empower artists and that it is used respectfully and ethically in ways that amplify human musical expression for generations to come.”

 

  • Max Richter shares: “Like every new technology, AI brings with it opportunities, but it also raises profound challenges for the creative community. The tech world and the music distribution ecosystem are quickly evolving to embrace this transformative technology and, unless artists are part of this process, there is no way to ensure that our interests will be taken into account. We have to be in this conversation, or our voices won’t be heard. Therefore, I’m very happy to be part of the “artist incubator” which will allow me to advocate for the interests of the creative community in the applications of AI to music and music distribution.”