Microsoft's Copilot teams up with Suno to enable AI song creation for free

Microsoft's AI chatbot Copilot has partnered with Cambridge-based AI music startup Suno to develop a plug-in that lets users create AI songs. This feature allows users to generate full songs, complete with lyrics and instrumentals, by simply inputting prompts into Copilot. To use it, Copilot users need to sign in, enable the Suno plug-in, and input a brief text prompt. The system then generates a song, usually lasting one to two minutes.

Suno's usage rights and monetization policies restrict free users from monetizing AI songs on platforms like YouTube or Spotify, while paid users can commercially use the songs they generate. Suno retains rights to songs generated by free users, although non-commercial use and sharing on social platforms are allowed. Despite this, concerns have been raised about AI algorithms using existing music without the original artists' permission or compensation, leading to legal disputes and a newly proposed Senate bill that could offer artists a remedy when their digital likenesses are used without consent, with the future of AI music remaining uncertain.

This development is part of a larger trend of technology companies and AI music startups investing in GenAI-driven music creation technologies, with tools like Soundful, Magenta, AudioCraft, Soundraw, Boomy, AIVA, Stable Audio, and more, each offering unique AI music generation tools.