Lab Sessions:

Google Labs x Jacob Collier

Over the course of a year-long collaboration that culminated in an October 2024 launch, we partnered with musician Jacob Collier—renowned for his passion for enabling others to find their own creative voice—to explore how generative AI tools can expand access to music-making.

Working closely with teams at Google DeepMind and Google Labs, Jacob helped shape the future of MusicFX DJ, a generative AI music tool that allows users to guide a real-time stream of music through intuitive prompts—ranging from instruments and genres to emotional tones. The result is a continuously evolving musical session that puts users in the creative driver’s seat, making it possible to generate, customize, and share up to 60-second audio snippets on the fly.

Jacob’s contributions focused on making the tool feel approachable and inspiring—especially for those who may not have traditional musical training. His feedback was instrumental in shaping an experience that lowers the barrier to entry while preserving the joy of play and discovery.

This kind of artist–technologist collaboration is essential. It ensures that as we build new AI tools, we remain anchored in the needs, instincts, and imaginations of real creative practitioners. Co-creating with artists doesn’t just make the tools better—it pushes us to think more critically about the future we’re designing for. If AI is going to support more inclusive and expressive creative ecosystems, partnerships like these are key.

Watch the complete film.