Meta And UMG Join Forces To Tackle AI Music Issues - 1

Image by Rakesh A, from Flickr

Meta And UMG Join Forces To Tackle AI Music Issues

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Reuters reported today that Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s largest music label, has announced an expanded partnership with Meta Platforms Inc. The agreement is set to create new opportunities for UMG artists and songwriters across Meta’s platforms.

TechCrunch reports that a key feature of the new agreement is its focus on addressing unauthorized AI-generated content. This includes the misuse of songs by AI systems, which can scrape and replicate music without the consent of the original creators.

Michael Nash, UMG’s Chief Digital Officer and Executive Vice President, emphasized the importance of protecting artists’ rights. “We look forward to continuing to work together to address unauthorized AI-generated content that could affect artists and songwriters so that UMG can continue to protect their rights both now and in the future,” he said in a TechCrunch statement.

Under the new terms, UMG artists will benefit from expanded monetization options, including enhanced features for short-form videos and new opportunities on WhatsApp. Meta’s platforms, known for connecting artists with fans, will integrate licensed music into a wider range of services, including virtual reality experiences and live streaming.

As reported by TechCrunch, this partnership comes after a dispute earlier this year between TikTok and UMG. UMG’s music catalog was removed from TikTok due to concerns about AI and online safety, which UMG highlighted in a statement released in February. The two companies reached a resolution in May, leading to the return of music from artists like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift to the platform.

Meta asserts that it is adopting an ethical approach to AI music by releasing only generative AI models trained on “Meta-owned and specifically licensed music,” according to its website . However, TechCrunch has noted that Meta has acknowledged the potential misuse of AudioCraft to create deepfakes of individuals’ voices.

The expanded partnership between UMG and Meta aims to address unauthorized AI-generated content and offer new monetization opportunities. This collaboration reflects ongoing efforts to align the music industry with evolving social media platforms.

Microsoft Will Remove Paint 3D App In November - 2

Photo by Surface on Unsplash

Microsoft Will Remove Paint 3D App In November

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Microsoft shared a new update on its Paint 3D app letting users know that it will stop working later this year.

“Paint 3D is deprecated and will be removed from the Microsoft Store on November 4th, 2024,” states the update shared by Microsoft. “Existing installations of Paint 3D will continue to work, but the app will no longer be available for download from the Microsoft Store.”

As an alternative, Microsoft suggests users use Paint and Photos for editing viewing 2D images, and 3D Viewer for 3D content.

According to PCMag , the application had been working for 7 years and Microsoft made a big announcement for its launch, promoting it as a “new app for creativity.” Paint 3D was created for 3d modeling and editing.

Microsoft hasn’t shared too many details, and it has just been spotted by a few users. PCMag reports that the message did not show in their download yet. Paint 3D isn’t part of the default apps included in Windows 11, only on certain Windows 10 devices, and it must be downloaded at the moment.

The tech site suggests that it could be a similar case to what happened to the original Paint tool back in 2017. After Microsoft announced its removal, users complained and the company decided to leave the app in the Windows Store.

According to The Verge , Microsoft has even added more features —including Photoshop and AI-powered features— to Paint on Windows 11, making it an attractive tool at the moment.

Users have already shown discontent on social media. “It’s a shame, honestly. They could’ve integrated it into the regular Paint,” said one user. “Paint 3D will be missed. I use it almost every day,” added another.

The removal could be related to the company’s recent updates. Microsoft recently launched Designer app , an AI-powered tool expected to compete against major design tools like Canva.