Singer With Parkinson's Uses AI to Create Music, Stirring Copyright and Equity Debate

Generative AI music has drawn controversy over the licensing of training data and questions of creative authorship, while record companies including Sony and Universal Music Group have sued Suno and Udio. London singer Samuel Smith lost the ability to play instruments because of Parkinson's disease. His case shows how AI can also serve as assistive technology for people with disabilities, raising broader questions about copyright rules and digital equity.

A June 26, 2026, report said Smith hummed melodies into his phone, wrote his own lyrics and produced demos by refining prompts hundreds of times through Suno and Udio. He then worked with a Grammy-winning team to complete his new album, “The Art of Letting Go.” Legal experts have consequently argued for distinguishing between “fully generated” works and “disability-assisted” creation, while considering a dedicated exemption. No financial amount was disclosed in the case.