YouTube Shorts this week launched Dream Track, a new feature using AI (artificial intelligence) that gives users the ability to make music with the artificially generated vocals of several prominent artists, as Rolling Stone reported. It's being first rolled out to only a select group of users.

Is creating new songs using the replicated voice of a singer or band the future of listening? Though no hard rock or heavy metal artists are yet involved, YouTube has rounded up major pop singers such as Demi Lovato and John Legend to help launch Dream Track with their AI-generated vocals.

Watch a YouTube video introduction about Dream Track down toward the bottom of this post.

READ MORE: We Asked AI Why Maiden + Soundgarden Aren't in the Rock Hall of Fame

"At this initial phase," YouTube explains in a Nov. 16 blog post, "the experiment is designed to help explore how the technology could be used to create deeper connections between artists and creators, and ultimately, their fans."

It continues, "Starting today, nine artists including Alec Benjamin, Charlie Puth, Charli XCX, Demi Lovato, John Legend, Papoose, Sia, T-Pain, and Troye Sivan who have chosen to collaborate in this experiment and work with us to shape the future of AI in music, are giving a small group of select U.S. creators the chance to create unique soundtracks of up to 30 seconds for their Shorts."

How does it work? "By simply typing an idea into the creation prompt and selecting a participating artist that appears in the carousel, an original Shorts soundtrack featuring the AI-generated voice of that artist will be produced for the creator to use in their Short," YouTube touts of Dream Track.

YouTube: An Early Look at the Possibilities as We Experiment with AI + Music

AI-generated vocals by major artists have already been making headway on the internet, though usually officially unsanctioned. At this point, we're already able to hear something like Megadeth's Dave Mustaine singing Metallica's "Master of Puppets." Should major artists get onboard with AI in order to fight unauthorized dupes?

Should We Voice Replicate Artists?

What about the legal and ethical implications, especially for the artist who supplies the voice? Last year, an AI-generated rap song replicating Drake and The Weeknd, "heart on my sleeve," went viral before it was removed from streaming services for being unauthorized. YouTube, however, wants to work in tandem with approving artists.

"That's why we developed a set of AI Music principles and a Music AI incubator published earlier this year that are rooted in responsible collaboration," YouTube says. "Since then, we've been exploring the possibilities of how AI can empower creativity alongside artists, songwriters, producers and our partners while also identifying its challenges."

Get Loudwire's newsletter and Loudwire's app.

YouTube: Introducing Dream Track

The 47 Rock + Metal Songs With Over One Billion Spotify Streams

Recapping the rock and metal songs that have eclipsed one billion streams on Spotify.

NOT INCLUDED: The definition of rock is incredibly broad today and, in this list, we've elected not to include pop/rock acts such as Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5, Twenty One Pilots, 5 Seconds of Summer, Coldplay, Goo Goo Dolls, Gym Class heroes and Train. 

Gallery Credit: Joe DiVita

More From 97.1 KXRX