It's your last semester of high school. Ever. I remember people telling me, "Live it up. You only have one senior year. Enjoy it while it lasts." But besides the fact that I was completely terrified about my upcoming college decision/what I was going to do after I graduated, getting certain ACT scores, and taking AP exams, the last thing I should have been thinking and worrying about was, "I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING EVER THIS YEAR BECAUSE THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YEAR LIKE IT AND IF I DONT ALMOST DIE FROM LACK OF SLEEP IM NOT DOING IT RIGHT." So is true about every year you live. Every year is different and new and the last of its kind you will ever have. Relax. Enjoy. If it isn't the best year of your life, don't sweat it. I know a lot of semesters I've had in college that have had much more success in the areas of friendship, joy, and living to the max than my senior year of high school did. Yes, this is the last semester you will be with the same people in the same place so try to enjoy it as it lasts. But don't kill yourself over doing EVERYTHING ever because "well I might never get a chance to do it again!" Learn to take time to enjoy your family and the people in your life that may not follow you to your next phase of life. Maybe this last high school semester is a time of letting go, a time of healing, a time of growth. It doesn't have to be your best or most #turnt one ever. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself, your friends, and the poor school system to make this semester live up to perfection; it probably will not happen. Most of the things that stressed me out senior year ended up being 90% less scary and drastic than they actually are. I've learned that sometimes making mistakes (when it is not life threatening) can help you learn, so don't be afraid to say yes if you are leaning a certain way. Sometimes it is the decision making itself that leads to anxiety. So what, this semester wasn't the best you've ever had; it can only go up from here! Good luck and remember that most things in life are not as scary as they look or feel at first.
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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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