BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Some students at Berklee College of Music are upset about a course on generative AI songwriting.

The elective, titled “Bots and Beats: AI and the Future of Songwriting,” explores “how music makers can use the latest AI tools to expand their craft, and how to avoid using those same tools in a way that hinders their craft,” according to the course description.

“In addition,” the description continues, “this course will also explore the impact of AI on the music industry (both helpful and harmful), and on the future careers of music makers, as well as the role of musicians and creators in a society with abundant access to music creation.” Students are also tasked with “generating original lyrics, melodies, songs, and recordings in collaboration with AI.”

An online petition is calling on Berklee to disband the class and any other promotion of generative AI at the school.

“AI models like Chat GPT that are being promoted by the Berklee Songwriting Department steal the art of 10’s of 1000’s of artists and rot the essence of the industry and have devastating consequences on the environment all to create facsimiles of real human art,” the petition reads.

More than 340 people have signed the petition as of Thursday afternoon.

Speaking with WBZ NewsRadio, several Berklee students shared similar criticisms about the school promoting the use of generative AI in music.

“This is something that ultimately is harming musicians,” one student said.

“It devalues what we do as musicians and artists,” said another student.

A group of students met with faculty Tuesday to discuss their concerns about the course.

“We had a lot of people show up, the room was packed,” said Izzy, a junior who attended the meeting but did not feel it was that productive.

Berklee, in a statement to WBZ, said, “As an artist-first institution at the forefront of contemporary music and performing arts education, Berklee has a responsibility to prepare our students to navigate technologies impacting the creative industries. We will continue to do so, in keeping with our guiding principles.

WBZ’s Emma Friedman reports.