I love to lift weights. I love powerlifting (squat, deadlift and bench) and Olympic lifting (clean and jerk and snatch). I can even consider loving bicep curls, which are pretty much the least athletically useful movement that has ever existed.
I started lifting in high school when I participated in high jump for my high school's track team. Being an athlete has always defined me, since the sixth grade when I joined my first sport, and now, as a college athlete and Crossfit lover. Gradually, being a gym rat has become more of an identity for me as I learned more about lifting and got stronger. Here's what I've learned from my favorite hobby.
Lifting has changed my mindset as an athlete, especially as a female athlete. Frequently, I hear teammates or other women talk about their bodies negatively: they wish they were skinnier, or their stomachs were flatter, or whatever it is they've decided they don't like about themselves on that particular day. I see someone eating a single chicken breast for dinner, or skipping breakfast after morning weights, or talking about the newest diet to lose weight.
Lifting has allowed me to let go of all of that, because I want to be strong. Muscles aren't built by five pieces of lettuce with low-fat dressing, but by a balanced and nutritious diet with plenty of calories. In a world where dieting and being overweight are topics of discussion and worries for other people, I get to enjoy eating because I know it's helping me reach my goals.
I don't look in the mirror and see anything negative. I see strong quads and hamstrings that power through the final set of squats. I see traps that I can hold my barbell on. I see callouses on my hands that protect me during my workouts. My body is mine to build and form, not the product of anyone else's opinion or pressure, and that's a beautiful feeling.
The most important thing I have learned from lifting, though, is that the barbell will never lie. Fifty or 100 or 150 pounds will always be the same weight, but what changes is me. Even if I've had a bad day, or gotten a bad grade, or taken a week off, the barbell will still be there waiting, and it won't let me down. The cool, rough metal will always be a welcome feeling in my hands, even as my lungs and muscles burn. The barbell will always be a challenge, it will always be tough, it will always give me something to focus on and strive for. And the barbell will always be there for me.
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
