Ethical Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Music: A Study of Undergraduate Music Students in Shandong, China

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping the music industry, influencing composition, production, performance, and education. While AI offers numerous advantages, its integration raises significant ethical concerns, including issues of transparency, fairness, accountability, and privacy. This study explores the ethical perceptions of AI among undergraduate music students in Shandong, China, a region known for its rich cultural heritage and growing AI adoption. Using the Attitudes Toward the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AT-EAI) questionnaire, data was collected from 350 students to assess their views on key ethical dimensions of AI in music. Findings reveal a strong preference for AI transparency, accountability, and data privacy, with notable gender differences in perceptions of AI’s role in public services and decision-making processes. Female students demonstrated greater concern for transparency and ethical safeguards, whereas male students exhibited more openness to AI’s broader societal applications. These insights highlight the importance of integrating AI ethics education into music curricula to foster informed and responsible engagement with AI technologies. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on AI ethics in creative fields and offers recommendations for ensuring ethical AI integration in music.