SoundCloud CEO admits AI terms weren’t clear enough, issues new pledge

SoundCloud is revising its terms of use after facing widespread backlash over a clause that many users believed allowed the company to train AI models on user-uploaded content. The controversy began earlier this year when SoundCloud quietly updated its usage policies, sparking concerns among users.

SoundCloud’s CEO, Eliah Seton, acknowledged in an open letter on Wednesday that the updated terms were “too broad and weren’t clear enough.” Seton explained that the intended focus of the updates was on internal AI uses, such as enhancing recommendations and preventing fraud, but the wording failed to convey this clearly.

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The revised terms now explicitly state that SoundCloud will not use user content to train generative AI models that replicate or synthesize a user’s voice, music, or likeness, according to Seton. This change aims to address user concerns and provide clearer guidelines on the company’s AI practices.

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