Try to imagine it for a moment. You type into Gemini: “Create an Afrobeats song about memories of Mom’s cooking” – and within seconds, AI composes an entire track complete with lyrics, melody, and cover art. That is exactly what Google has introduced, sending a major shockwave through the music world.
The new Lyria 3 model
Behind the entire project is Google DeepMind, a research division dedicated to AI at the deepest level. Its latest model, Lyria 3, is its most advanced music-generation tool yet. It is not merely an improved version of its predecessor – it represents a qualitative leap. The model was developed in collaboration with producers and musicians, who taught it to understand rhythm, arrangement, and emotion in music.
What can Lyria 3 do that older models could not? Three things at once: it automatically generates song lyrics without requiring you to write a single word, gives users greater creative control over style, vocals, and tempo, and creates realistic-sounding, musically complex tracks. From retro synthwave through jazz, funk, and Motown to drum and bass – the range of genres is astonishing.
A music studio built right into Gemini
Google has integrated Lyria 3 directly into the Gemini app, in a beta version available since February 18. It works surprisingly simply. Describe an idea – for example, “a comedic R&B ballad about a sock searching for its match” – and Gemini generates a 30-second track with lyrics and custom cover art (created by the Nano Banana generator).
Want more? Upload a photo or video. Gemini analyzes the mood of the image and composes a track that fits it perfectly. This is the part that fascinates me personally the most – moving from text to images as a source of musical inspiration is something we have not seen before.
The feature is available to all users aged 18 and over in English; Czech is not yet supported. Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra subscribers receive higher generation limits.
Lyria 3 on YouTube for Shorts creators
Alongside Gemini, Google is expanding Dream Track – a tool for YouTube Shorts creators that allows them to generate AI music directly in the app. Dream Track was previously available only in the US. With the arrival of Lyria 3, it is rolling out globally.
How does it work in practice? Open the YouTube app, tap Add sound → Create music, choose a style or artist, write a prompt (max. 50 characters), and let the AI work. You can then add the resulting track to your Short. Other users can remix it – but they cannot download it. Creators thus get a custom original soundtrack without having to pay for licensed music or spend hours browsing various music libraries. For small channels, it is a game changer.
Google keeps track of what AI creates
This brings us to the question hanging in the air: how can we tell what is real and what was generated by AI? Google has an answer – SynthID. Every track created through Gemini carries an invisible watermark that cannot be heard but can be detected. Simply upload the file to Gemini and ask whether it is AI-generated content.
Lyria 3 also includes filters preventing the imitation of existing artists. If you enter the name of a specific artist in the prompt, Gemini will not create a copy of their style – instead, it will draw loose inspiration from the mood and aesthetic. Google also encourages users to report content that may infringe copyright.
The music industry under fire from AI
It would be naive to think that the arrival of Lyria 3 would be frictionless. AI music is dividing the world into two camps. Platforms such as YouTube and Spotify are embracing AI and signing agreements with record labels. At the same time, however, many artists and labels are suing AI companies for the unauthorized use of their recordings to train models. Deezer has even launched a tool that labels AI music to curb fraudulent streams.
Google is trying to play fair. Lyria 3 was developed in collaboration with the music community, and Google DeepMind has been actively gathering feedback from artists since 2023. The goal, it says, is not to replace human creativity but to expand it. Time – and the music industry’s response – will tell whether it succeeds.
