Controversy Erupts Over Alleged AI Use in 'KPop Demon Hunters' Hit Song

'KPop Demon Hunters' Producer Accused of ChatGPT Use for Songwriting

The Saja Boys tune has come under scrutiny because of a seemingly mistranslated report. Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters has stayed in the conversation in large part because of its blockbuster soundtrack, but now one of those songs has come under scrutiny for potentially getting an assist from ChatGPT. In a recent discussion in Seoul for OpenAI's newly opened Korean office, songwriter Vince reportedly claimed he used the controversial technology to help pen the song "Soda Pop," performed in the movie by the demonic Saja Boys. He is credited as one of several co-writers on the track, according to a Netflix blog post. A now-deleted tweet (preserved in a screengrab on Reddit) said to be penned by an OpenAI exec read: "Fav moment from the launch celebration was hearing singer/songwriter Vince share that ChatGPT helped him write 'Soda Pop' from KPop Demon Hunters! It apparently gave him ideas to make it sound 'more bubbly.'" Here's where things get complicated. The alleged use of AI to help write "Soda Pop" was first reported in the English-language version of Joongang Dailyâ€"but the original Korean text of the article makes no mention of ChatGPT being used specifically during the production of KPop Demon Hunters' music. A translator on Gizmodo's staff revealed Vince instead made a far broader statementâ€""I sometimes use ChatGPT to get some inspiration while producing K-Pop"â€"while discussing how AI technology is already being used in the K-Pop industry. As Kotaku has pointed out, KPop Demon Hunters has previously had to fend off allegations surrounding its characters being made with AI. Rei Ami, one of the singers for the movie's girl group Huntr/x, has also had to insist that she and co-singers Ejae and Audrey Nuna are real human beings. io9 has reached out to Netflix for clarification and will update should we hear back.

KPop Demon Hunters Writer Says He Used AI To Write â€~Soda Pop’

Vince spoke at an OpenAI event and apparently said he used AI to write â€~Soda Pop’ OpenAI officially has a Korean office. Normally, that wouldn’t be news we would cover here at Kotaku, but KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix’s animated musical phenomenon, was apparently brought up during the generative AI organization’s launch event for its new Korean subsidiary on Monday, September 15. Vince, a prolific K-pop producer who wrote songs performed by the film’s demonic boy band group called the Saja Boys, made an appearance at the Seoul event. That’s annoying in and of itself, but he also reportedly dropped the bomb that he used AI to help write the group’s infectious song “Soda Pop.†OpenAI technical staff member Sherwin Wu said in a since-deleted tweet that Vince said he used ChatGPT to write "Soda Pop," and that the generative chatbot "gave him ideas to make it sound 'more bubbly.'" This occurred during an on-stage discussion with Oliver Jay, OpenAI’s Chief Business Officer. Korea Joongang Daily reports that Vince said this was an example of how AI is “already used in K-pop production,†but this is notably not a direct quote, as the original article was written in Korean and “translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools.†The publication’s original Korean article includes mentions of Vince using ChatGPT, but doesn’t call out KPop Demon Hunters or “Soda Pop†by name. We’ve reached out to the outlet for clarification. At the moment, there doesn’t seem to be footage of Vince’s talk on the internet, but we’ve reached out to Netflix for comment on the situation. Based on these accounts, it sounds like Vince used ChatGPT to help ideate the song that would eventually become “Soda Pop,†but AI was not used to generate the song that appears in the film. Rei Ami, one of the vocalists behind the voices of the fictional girl group Huntr/x, has been very vocal about the real people behind every performance on the soundtrack ever since accusations of AI use have sprouted up in the wake of the film’s colossal popularity. Even if the final song is all produced and sung by real people, fans are feeling burned knowing AI may have played any part in the creation of the film, given its worldwide success and how it’s become a poster child for people advocating for new ideas in the animation industry in the face of never-ending sequel slop. We’ll update this story if we hear back from Netflix or if Vince makes an official statement.