Bubble tea, aka boba tea or pearl tea, originated in Taiwan during the 1980s. Since then, this tea-based drink with questionable black tapioca pearls has been slowly taking over the world. Many well run shops have popped up in many cities, and other Asian bakeries and supermarkets have started offering them as well.
So what's the hype? The bubbles are made of tapioca, starch extracted from cassava root. After preparation, said tapioca bubbles have a chewy texture and a subtle sweetness. If you aren't expecting to have to chew your drink, encountering a black mass in your straw may be a less than pleasant surprise. But not so fast! The texture of the bubbles offer a unique contrast to the taste and texture of an otherwise plain beverage, if you can accept the fact that you have to work harder for your drink.
What about the tea part of bubble tea? Fans of the drink can typically find bubble tea made of either fruit slush/smoothies (fruit based), or teas, with and without milk (tea based). Boba slushies are great if you are looking for a brain freeze, or a sweet, refreshing summertime drink with a spin. If you are feeling adventurous, try getting a durian or avocado slush. If not, mango is usually a very solid bet. For people who like their drinks more hardcore, the tea-based drinks are the best. The milk and tea combo mixed with the boba creates a triple threat. Creamy, tasty, fun. What more can you want from a drink? Teas can usually be ordered flavored or unflavored. Flavors are usually added by pumping concentrated syrups to the drink, and many people enjoy the added taste and sweetness. But if you want the actual tea to shine, I suggest getting the jasmine green tea or plain black milk tea. Taro, a common flavor in Asian desserts, is popular as well.
Are you craving boba yet? If you have not tried it, find your local joint right now! It may just be your cup of tea :)
*Shameless plug: if you live in the metro Atlanta area, be sure to go check out Snow Mountain! It's a boba place in the same plaza as the Duluth H-Mart. I had my first boba there, and fell in love. Their regular size is relatively cheap at $2.50, and if you're nice, they don't charge extra for toppings like grass jelly, egg nog, milk pudding, rainbow jelly, or lychee jelly! They have multiple flavors and a really solid black milk tea. The owners are an old Asian couple, both really sweet. The address is 10820 Abbotts Walk Dr
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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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