Japan’s biggest girl group, AKB48, has released a new single co-created with artificial intelligence after fans voted for it in a televised competition.
The contest pitted renowned Japanese songwriter Yasushi Akimoto, whose songs have sold more than 100 million copies, against an AI version of himself, called “AI Akimoto,” trained on his writing style. Both wrote new tracks for AKB48 to celebrate the group’s 20th anniversary. Fans were asked to vote for their favorite without knowing which was which.
The results, announced live on Japanese TV, shocked the veteran songwriter. The AI track “Omoide Scroll” beat Akimoto’s “Cecil” by more than 3,000 votes. “What? You’re kidding me!” Akimoto exclaimed as the scores were revealed.
The winning song has now been uploaded to streaming platforms as AKB48’s 67th official single. Akimoto’s “Cecil,” which had been posted to YouTube, has since been removed.
Japan’s music industry will be closely watching how fans react to “Omoide Scroll” now that they know it was machine-generated. AKB48’s last 53 singles all hit number one on Japan’s Oricon Singles Chart. If this release breaks that streak, it could be seen as a rejection of AI-made music.
Akimoto, one of the most influential figures in Japanese pop, has been called the “Steve Jobs of Otaku” for shaping idol culture and creating chart-topping acts like Onyanko Club and AKB48 itself. He also teaches at Kyoto University of Art and Design.
For the competition, Google’s Gemini software was trained on Akimoto’s past work, including themes, vocabulary, and songwriting techniques. It then wrote new lyrics and even selected which AKB48 member from the 43-strong lineup should perform and choreograph the song. While the arrangement was completed by humans, some Japanese media reported the AI also helped with the melody.
Both tracks were introduced without revealing who wrote them:
- “Cecil,” by Akimoto, is a Motown-inspired track with a French twist about a girl obsessed with her best female friend: “I copy the way you style your hair / Please don’t notice my love for you.” Akimoto chose the group’s current leader, Narumi Kuranoo, for the lead vocals.
- “Omoide Scroll,” by AI Akimoto, takes a more modern approach with light techno backing and a group chorus. The title means “Memory Scroll,” and the lyrics reflect heartbreak in the smartphone age: “I scroll through memories / As the battery light fades.” After analyzing interviews with AKB48 members, the AI picked newcomer Momoka Eto to deliver the vocals, highlighting her emotional storytelling skills.
Throughout the competition, Akimoto stayed philosophical. “Everyone kept asking me, ‘What will you do if you lose?’” he said. “It’s interesting to think AI can make such a good song, and I’m looking forward to it. I want [fans] to say, ‘I never thought of that!’”
When votes were counted, the AI track scored 14,225 votes to Akimoto’s 10,535. Speaking live on TV, the songwriter admitted he was “disappointed.” “It’s a shame. I wrote it with all my strength,” he said.
The AI program was also prompted for comment. “Perhaps the real Akimoto was trying to show something new by losing this time,” it replied, prompting Akimoto to snap back “Shut up!” and laughter to erupt in the studio.
Grammy-winning jazz artist Hiromi Uehara and former AKB48 star Rino Sashihara comforted the songwriter and urged a rematch. Akimoto rejected the idea but expressed frustration about AI’s ability to mine data to find the “largest common denominator” in music. Still, he admitted: “I think the AI song is a good song.”
