After a week back in school, I can still say I am sad about Spring Break being over. Who would have thought that 8 days in Haiti could change my life? For my Spring Break I traveled alongside 3 other undergraduate students, a graduate student/translator and a professor to Borgne, Haiti. While we were there we completed multiple service projects including painting a mural of the solar system for a 4th grade classroom, and going to a mobile health clinic. While I greatly enjoyed all of the service projects, my favorite part of the trip was interacting with the people. Everywhere we went we were followed by groups of children who were fascinated with us (yelling "blan," meaning foreigner). Though I only knew a few words and phrases in creole, I always felt welcomed by the people. They would smile and wave, sometimes even cry, thanking us for our help. While I was so happy to help them, in any way that I could, I kept feeling like I should've been doing more. Most of the people we met or saw lived on about $2 a day. There were no mirrors, there was no electricity, sometimes there wasn't even clean water. The amazing part was that this didn't seem to bother them. I'm sure they wouldn't say no to a clean shower or a new pair of shoes, but they were always so thankful for what they had, and more importantly, who they had in their lives. We often saw brothers holding hands to show their appreciation and love for one another. We saw children walking miles every day to get fruit and other foods for their home. We saw mothers who were always taking care of their children and husbands before taking care of themselves. Why do I miss Haiti so much? Well, I'll tell you why. I miss Haiti because it gives me hope for humanity. Most people would say it should make me thankful for all that I have in my own life. I'm not saying that this isn't true, but maybe what I value and what my peers value needs to change. Maybe I should spend less time worrying about everything I think I need to complete on my to-do list, and more time helping my mom make dinner. Maybe I should spend less time on Facebook and Instagram and more time studying. I can honestly say that I feel like I found a piece of my heart in soul in Haiti. All I want to do is go back there. I know it may be a while before I go back to Haiti, but the people I met will always be in my heart. While I pull myself together to finish this last crazy month of school, I'll always be thinking of Haiti.
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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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