This morning, I ran the Long Beach Half Marathon. I kind of expected it to be horrible. Until today, I never understood why people voluntarily run marathons. I mean who
wants to pay to run 26.2 (or 13.1) miles for fun? But, my friend begged me to
run it with her and I figured I would do it just so I would have motivation to
get in better shape. But, even this morning, I had a bad attitude about the whole
thing. I was mad that I had to wake up at 4 a.m. and I really had no set goals
for myself. I figured as long as I finished, I was fine with whatever time I
got.
Running
that race ended up being one of the coolest experiences of my life. From the
minute I started running, I understood why people love running marathons.
There was so much energy in the crowd of spectators and within my fellow
runners. I really enjoy running, but usually after a few miles, I start to lose
motivation. However, with so many people around me I was super motivated to
keep up. I went into the race thinking it was fine if I walked part of it, but the second I began, I refused to let myself walk. As soon as I finished, I began
making plans with my friends to run more and setting goals for myself to
improve my time.
Running that
many miles along the beach helped me clear my head. These past couple weeks
have been stressful, to say the least. I was recently told that I might not be
able to go down the career path that I have always dreamed about after
graduation. So I have spent weeks obsessing over that and trying to talk to
multiple people to get a definite answer. Running, this morning, was the first
time I felt I was able to put things in perspective. My mind was clearer and I
finally felt like I had time think. It was such a nice break from the worry and
craziness of UCLA.
In the end, I walked away having gained a lot from the experience. I never thought I would
have been able to run 13 miles, nonstop. I never knew how awesome running a half
marathon is. I am truly grateful that I
had the small amount of faith it took to step outside my comfort zone this
morning.
The point of that little anecdote was
to encourage you to step outside your comfort zone every once in a while. Try
something you never thought you were capable of doing, or would enjoy. You will probably find that you are stronger than you think, and you might
find a hobby you really enjoy. And even if you hate it, at least you tried
and have a pretty cool story.
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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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