The lines between artificial intelligence and creative expression are blurring as both Google and Apple roll out new features leveraging AI to generate music and curated playlists. These moves underscore a broader trend of integrating advanced AI tools into everyday consumer applications, transforming how users interact with and experience music.
Google’s Gemini, its AI assistant, can now create 30-second musical tracks based on text prompts, uploaded photos, or videos, utilizing the company’s latest Lyria 3 model developed by Google DeepMind. The feature, available to users 18 and older in multiple languages, is currently accessible on the desktop version of Gemini and will soon be available on the mobile app. This development places Google in direct competition with OpenAI’s ChatGPT as both companies vie for consumer adoption of their AI platforms. Google’s Gemini 3 model, launched in November, garnered widespread praise, even prompting OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to reportedly initiate a “code red” to accelerate improvements to ChatGPT, according to reports.
Apple is also entering the AI-powered music space, announcing a new feature called Playlist Playground within Apple Music. This tool allows users to generate playlists from text prompts, complete with cover art, descriptions, and a selection of 25 songs. The feature is included in iOS 26.4, currently in beta and slated for wider release this spring. Playlist Playground directly rivals a similar offering from Spotify Technology SA, intensifying competition in the music streaming market.
Google’s Lyria 3 and Gemini’s Music Creation Capabilities
Google’s Lyria 3 model is central to Gemini’s new music creation functionality. Users can request tracks with specific styles or moods, and the AI can generate both lyrics and instrumental compositions. To enhance the user experience, Google’s image generation model, Nano Banana, will also create custom cover art for these AI-generated tracks, providing a visual element when sharing links. Google is limiting free users to generating 10 tracks per day, while paid subscribers can create between 20 and 100 tracks daily, depending on their subscription tier. The company states that users retain ownership of the music they generate and that filters are in place to prevent copyright or privacy violations. Google emphasizes that Lyria 3 is trained on music that YouTube and Google have the rights to use, adhering to their terms of service, partner agreements, and applicable laws, as stated in a blog post.
Apple’s AI-Powered Playlists and the Competitive Landscape
Apple’s Playlist Playground, powered by its own AI technology, offers a different approach to AI and music. Instead of generating original tracks, it focuses on curating existing songs based on user prompts. The feature’s inclusion in iOS 26.4 beta signals Apple’s increasing investment in AI across its ecosystem. Though, Apple has reportedly faced delays in rolling out updates to its virtual assistant, Siri, according to Bloomberg News. The introduction of Playlist Playground comes as Spotify’s stock briefly erased gains following Google’s announcement, and shares of Sirius XM Holdings Inc. Also experienced a similar decline. Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence suggest that these developments may prompt Spotify to accelerate the launch of its own AI-powered mixing feature.
Industry Concerns and Legal Battles
The rise of generative AI in music has not been without controversy. The music industry has expressed concerns about potential copyright infringement and the impact on artists’ livelihoods. In 2024, Universal Music Group NV, Warner Music Group Corp., and Sony Music Entertainment filed lawsuits against Suno AI and Uncharted Labs Inc. (developer of Udio AI) alleging copyright violations. Since then, Warner Music has reached an agreement with Suno, and both Warner and Universal Music have established agreements with Udio to allow their applications to continue operating with appropriate licensing and controls. Google asserts that its AI safeguards prevent the replication of specific artists’ work, instead using artist names as “broad creative inspiration” to generate tracks with similar styles or moods.
The integration of AI into music creation and consumption is still in its early stages. As these technologies evolve, it will be crucial to address the legal and ethical considerations surrounding copyright, artist compensation, and the potential for misuse. The coming months will likely see further innovation and competition in this space, as companies like Google, Apple, and Spotify strive to deliver compelling AI-powered music experiences to their users.
What comes next will depend on how these companies navigate the complex landscape of AI and intellectual property, and how users embrace these new creative tools. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
