Going away to college means going away to a new place with lots of new people; leaving old friends and a comfortable environment behind to embark on some new adventure. I had heard people describe college as somewhere to “find yourself,” which I believe can be true, but college is also where I’ve found my soulmate(s). In this crazy campus of four thousand people I’ve managed to find the girls who not only keep me sane every day, but will be by my side (literally or figuratively) for the rest of my life. It’s a little bit crazy to think that these are the girls that will be in my wedding—the girls who my kids will call “aunt”—and the girls that will be there for anything life decides to throw at me in the future. Although I am and will be thankful for them each and every day, these are five reasons I am so thankful they are here for such an influence and temptation filled time of life: college.
Good Influences
College is freedom. Even at a school where we live within a giant black gate, we are (mostly) free to make decisions regarding our actions. I’ll leave it at this: I’m just thankful to have friends who recommend Friday night baking, sappy romantic movie watching, and climbing crazy mountains because we have a blast doing it.
Saying Goodbye to My Comfort Zone
We all have our boxes of comfort. The great thing about my best friends is sometimes our boxes overlap, and, sometimes, they are very different. We are constantly pushing and advising each other on how to grow as people and become better every day. Even if that push turns into an awkward moment or two, we all know we will be there to rescue each other and laugh about it later.
Accountability
“Hey do you want to go on a run?” “Are you going to bible study” “How’s your homework this week?” No matter the question, my friends know how to keep me accountable to my goals every day. Because of them, I am healthier, a better Christian, and more driven to never let them (or anyone) down. There’s no way I would stay on track without their friendly reminders.
So. Much. Laughter.
I’m not quite sure what it is, but there’s something about getting together with your best friends after the most stressful week of your life that makes you laugh for hours on end. Whether is mutually laughing at the ridiculousness of a situation, laughing off some stress, or just laughing at something for the five hundredth time that is way more funny than it should be (Gluten Free Duck video, look it up), the best laughs I’ve shared are with my girls.
Mature Trust=Sanity
In those seconds we’re not laughing, we’re typically having some sort of heart-to-heart conversation that involves a large amount of trust. There’s a certain maturity in college that tends to leave the “he said, she said” of high school behind (most of the time). I know I can trust these girls with anything, and they can help me through everything. These life talks keep me sane and offer a unique and helpful perspective surrounding all of life’s problems.
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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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