- A water ice stand called Del’s is a Rhode Island favorite. With fresh made ice in traditional lemon or watermelon flavors or a plethora of other options, stopping at ‘the sign of the lemon’ is sure to make any day better.
- The official state drink is called coffee milk. A mix of coffee syrup and milk in a manner similar to chocolate milk, this concoction can be found in all Rhode Island grocery stores.
- Rhode Island was one of the only states that never approved prohibition.
- There is a more eclectic mix of delectable food in Providence than in most other cities. Italian. Vietnamese. Thai. American. Seafood. Mexican. No matter what type of food you are craving, Providence is guaranteed to have it.
- You can drive across the state in an hour. Yep, Rhode Island is that small. Some people commute longer distances to work each day than the length of the state. Places that are more than thirty minutes away seem like an eternity for Rhode Islanders.
- Tomato pie is bigger than pizza. Like pizza but without the cheese, tomato pie is a Rhode Island favorite. Most Rhode Island natives would take tomato pie over pizza any day.
- A large blue bug permeates over Providence (the state’s capital and largest city). Visible from both sides of I-95 passing through Providence, this big blue bug is New England pest control’s mascot.
- WaterFire is one of the coolest events to ever exist! Every other Saturday night from the late spring to early fall, the rivers of Providence are lined with burning piles of wood and intense, instrumental music. If you’re ever in Providence on a summer Saturday night, check out WaterFire and I can guarantee you will be astonished.
- Job Lot is an amazing discounted store. A mini version of BJ’s, Ocean State Job Lot is every Rhode Islander’s go-to for everything from clothes to household items.
- The word 'wicked' is used a lot. If you hang around a native Rhode Islander for a long time, you are guaranteed to hear the phrase “wicked good” on more than one occasion.
- The whole state has one area code and it is 401. Because of Rhode Island’s sole area code, telephone numbers are listed without the area code. On many landlines, you do not even have to dial the area code to make a phone call. Convenient, right?!
- Rhode Island was the first state to have freedom of religion. Roger Williams founded Rhode Island as a state that went against the norm of an alignment of the church and state. Rhode Island would become a refuge for people prosecuted for their religious beliefs.
- Taylor Swift owns a vacation house in the southern part of the state (in Watch Hill, RI). If you follow Taylor on Instagram, the crazy Fourth of July party she posted many pictures of this year likely took place at her Rhode Island abode.
- The drivers are notorious for being aggressive and bad. Having family in Rhode Island, I have experienced multiple near-accidents due to drivers cutting my family off.
- Family Guy took place here! The town of Quahog, where the show takes place, is not actually a real town; however, many of the places where scenes occur are based on real locations in Rhode Island. For instance, the Happy-Go-Lucky Factory where Peter Griffin works is based on the Hasbro Factory a few miles from Providence.
- Potholes are everywhere in the state. If you drive for just a few minutes in the state, you are bound to drive through a pothole (hopefully not one that gives you a flat tire!).
- Coffee is taken VERY seriously. There are more coffee shops on the East Side of Providence, where I go to school, than within fifteen miles of my house in Pennsylvania.
- Rhode Island has huge population density. With an estimated 1,050,292 people crammed into a state that is only 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, Rhode Island is the second most densely populated state (second only to New Jersey).
- Rhode Islanders employ various unique phrases. For instance, sandwiches are called "grinders," water fountains are "bubblers," and milkshakes are "cabinets."
- The full name of Rhode Island is Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. This makes the state’s official name the longest in the country.
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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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