I'm off to Denmark! This was a a spontaneous idea that stemmed from a Facebook friend request between my dad and one of his friends that he met while he studied abroad in France way back in the day.
I think it is amazing how people can reconnect. We share different parts of our lives with different people, and sometimes these people leave our lives for various reasons. But it is the reconnecting that is always interesting. Almost 25 years later, college friends can connect via the vast social networking system, do some minor catching up, joke about their children meeting, then actually buy plane tickets a week later.
Whether people leave your life for a good, neutral, or bad reason, reconnecting will always be interesting. The may look different because of time and natural aging. But what about their personality, or little quirks they had, or their view points? Have any of those changed drastically, or are they the exact same? I think both are very possible. I never have been a big fan of the binary of "people can change or people don't change" as and all encompassing way to describe the human experience. I think some people can change, whether it comes from within themselves or from outside forces, and some people don't change for the same reasons or others.
And it is within this time gap of knowing someone that quite possibly allows room for growth, improvement, or change (good and bad). I believe we are influenced in many ways by all the people we meet and interact with through out our lives. And through these interactions we shape and construct ourselves and our lives. In knowing someone, then losing contact with them, and reconnecting we can use it as a measurement to reflect upon what we have done.
If someone has changed, how have I changed if at all? They may have a new career, but the same personality. I may have the same career, but a different personality. And I may not even notice this until I have reconnected with certain people who remind me of a me that I once was. And that's amazing!
And so here I am! Ready to embark on one of the craziest adventures I have ever been on so far, all because of a friend request. I am the product of change and growth from my parents, as are my dad's friend's children. How funny life can come full circle, but in a different way than the first time it went around.
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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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