I love looking on the bright side. Ever since I was little, I was known as the smiley child. Most would agree that I just never stopped smiling! (And let's be real, it's still true today! I just can't help it, "I love smiling, smiling's my favorite!") As a kid, I just smiled because I was polite and I liked making others happy. As an adult, I smile because I'm optimistic! I love seeing the good in people and situations.
This is proving to be quite hard in the pessimistic world we live in now.
Our news outlets are filled with sad stories, criminals and scandals. There are corrupt politicians everywhere we look and we are taught that "happily ever after" is only found in fairytales. People see the glass as half empty and seek to find the bad in every person or situation. They see the worst aspects of our world and the people in it.
While our world is filling with negativity, I'm going to try and shine my light as bright as I can. I'm going to spread love, kindness and other good qualities as far as possible. I know I'm only one person, and I may not be able to change every person whose path I cross, but gosh darn it, I'm gonna spread my happiness and positivity whether they want it or not!
How can I stay optimistic amongst all the negativity? I owe a huge portion of this to God. I know that He has a perfect plan for all of us and is leading us all down a good path if we let Him! With the decision of accepting Jesus into my heart came a responsibility — a responsibility to shine for Him, to show the world His grace, mercy, and love. This helps a ton when trying to stay positive!
People think 2016 sucked and took too many celebrities' lives? There's a time for everyone, and their times all just happened to end in the same year. Think of the good times of this year, I'm absolutely sure not every moment was terrible.
People think there are only bad people out there? What about the people in the peace corps, people who volunteer their time, or people working on cures for diseases? Those with big, kind, giving hearts ARE out there. Promise.
People hate the snow? Look at how beautiful it is when the sun shines on it! Hate the rain? The plants have to get water somehow! Hate the sun? Nobody hates the sun, so I think we're all good there!
So as we're entering the beginnings of 2017, find the good in every day, in every person and in every situation. Be happy and get out there and spread your joy!!
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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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