It's already April and the scary thought of finals has taken over our minds.As students, we are expert procrastinators. We have a couple weeks until finals hit us, but that doesn't mean we should wait until the last minute to study.The thought of looking at your syllabus kills you. It's the end of the semester so you should know what is expected in the course. Many people skip looking at the syllabus and now it's the rush to catch up and start that final paper or project. Every day, I tell myself to start working on that 10-page paper for my Italian Lit class or my scene analysis for my film music class. I've been telling myself to start these things for the past two months. I still have not started. Typical me.
So how do college students prepare themselves for finals week? It's easy. Start early. Okay, it might not be so easy. Life gets in the way and things are starting to stack up. Will we ever learn not to procrastinate? Probably not, but we can try to be better about not procrastinating.
The most important part of ending the semester well is being mentally and physically prepared. Mental preparation is important because the amount of tasks that students need to accomplish is overwhelming. Being overwhelmed leads to stress. Stress makes us crazy.
Make a list of things that you need to accomplish so that you are organized. You don't want to be in a frenzy trying to figure out due dates and assignments.
We all should know by now that stress takes a huge toll on our immune systems. Keep calm because that might save you from the pain of getting sick. Pop those vitamin C tablets and stir up an Emergen-C drink. It could save you from keeling over in May. Here are some tips for surviving the final weeks of the semester.
1. Finish term papers a week before finals. It will give you more time to study.
2. Don't stress too soon. Organize and make a list of the order of exams so you know how you should be studying.
3. Get some sleep. All-nighters are not good for your body. If you start getting things done earlier instead of procrastinating, then you can get some much needed sleep.
4. Remember your health. Avoid junk food, caffeine and cigarettes. It'll be hard to give it up, but just remember that it can take a toll on your stamina.
5. Get help. Tutors and office hours exist for a reason. All professors want you to do well, so take advantage of the tutor opportunities. Don't go in at the last minute. Start now. The more help you get, the better off you will be.
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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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