Need a new way to relax? Need to spend time doing something to keep your mind off something else? Here is a quick read to contribute to your well-being and help you keep life less stressful.
1. Write by hand. Letters to friends, goals for the week,
notes for a lover, and thank you cards. Digital communication is easy and convenient, but ask anybody -- there is a huge difference between texting
someone to say that you love them and hope they have a great day, and
writing a personal handwritten note.
2. Cherish time to do absolutely nothing. There’s a time and place
for everything. It is called college. You have the rest of your life to have a
full-time career. There is no better time and place to spend doing nothing,
while enjoying yourself at the same time.
3. Think before responding. Our society has become too conditioned
to require things immediately. Someone asks a question, and we have to respond
that second. This was not the case before instant messaging and comment
threads. A sign of true intelligence and confidence is someone
who takes time to consider the question at hand, in a little more depth, and
then offers a response.
4. Cook a nice meal, just because. It really trains you to defy your need for
instant gratification and puts you in touch with something that is
very human and can be fun, if done right.
5. Read a book -- actual hard copy books that you can write notes in,
mark off sections of and actually hear the sound of a turning page.
6. Call relatives for no other reason than to say hi, and ask how they are doing.
7. Disconnect from technology frequently enough so you won’t be restless
and feel like you are missing something when you try to do so for a prolonged
period of time.
8. Clean, because it is satisfying, and do things like painting
walls or picking up around the house when you usually don’t.
9. Spend time volunteering. Whether it is with kids or at a local
homeless shelter, giving your time is rewarding and shapes you as an
individual.
10. Make sure relationships are based on time spent with one
another. People seem to be concerned with anything dealing with digital, but being with people is the only thing that will give you that
sense of human connectedness and closeness.
11. Sit and listen to music. We have made music background noise
in our everyday lives, but now and again, we should just sit and enjoy it like
people used to back in the day.
12. Explore places that you pass everyday. There will always be those
hidden gems around that you won’t believe you lived without seeing even though they
were a block away from you all along.
13. Put personal health and well-being first. Use those personal days
by just relaxing and enjoying yourself. It is healthy.
14. Plan something, especially with someone else, as simple as
dinner or a vacation. You always need something to look
forward to.
15. Stop to talk to people throughout the
day. Genuinely connecting with people is becoming increasingly less common. Turn your phone off when out to
dinner and stop spending all of your time documenting whatever you are doing for social media. It often takes away from the experience.
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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
StableDiffusion
The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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