As we're all in college and nearing our professional lives or going off to graduate school or pursuing whatever dreams we have, we have to start considering where our future is going to take us. Where will we be in 10 years? Will we be starting families? Will we be getting our doctorate degree? Will we have our business? Will we be traveling the world? It's hard to say where we will be, but we all seem to have some sort of plan in our minds as to where we would like to see ourselves. Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years?
I asked several people where they would like to be in 10 years and maybe if you're unsure, their responses will help shape your ideas too.
"In 10 years I want to have a wood shop and be making things out of wood. I would like to have a house and a dog and have a family. I want to have a degree as a backup plan. And a sweet Camaro/wave runner." --Matt
"Hmmm... I hope to be married if not engaged... At least a stable relationship! More importantly I want to have a steady job and be settled down in a place of my own because I've already done all of the traveling I want to before. I also hope to see all of my friends get married because I don't want to bring kids to their weddings." --Morgan
"In 10 years I want to be working for an insurance company in Chicago, so I know all my hard work in school paid off. I think it'd be cool to live in the city while I'm still young. I would hopefully be thinking about starting a family of my own around that time, if I haven't already. That is, to me, probably the most fulfilling and life-changing way to leave a mark on the world. I also want to be involved in soccer in any way I can, whether it's playing recreationally or coaching kids. That way, I'll always have something I love doing." --John
"In 10 years I would like to be a successful teacher that is married and getting ready to start a family. I love my job and I want to make a difference in children's lives. By that time, I think I will be ready to take the next step in my life and start a family of my own. I hope to be financially stable at that point so I can provide for them and give them a childhood that was as great as mine." --Katie
"Umm well I'd like to have a steady job with a house of my own with either a husband or at least a serious boyfriend because it's what I've always pictured myself having ever since I was little." --Caitlyn
"Well let's see here, as a future career hopefully be a licensed pediatric psychologist in either a children's hospital or trauma center! Be married with some little kiddies running around. I would love to live in Denver and one day I would like to open my own domestic abuse shelter." --Hollie
"I want to be living close to my sisters and my dad because I like them. Haha. I want to be working for a nonprofit focusing on their marketing department -- specifically social media marketing -- because I want to work for an organization that's doing something I care about and that has a purpose. Also I want to have an older house with a backyard so I can adopt a couple of senior dogs. I guess I would maybe want children at that point too but who knows. I hope I have easy access to coffee and a decent book every day and I guess I would also like to be in good company with great friends." --Logan
"Well in 10 years, I'm going to be 30. By that time, I would hope I have a job either as a physical therapist or PE teacher. I would like to be married and at least talking about starting a family. I would be living in either a house or condo with my husband. Since I will be 30, that's the point I would like to be at in 10 years." --Courtney
"I'm hoping to own my own software/game development company with my friends and have a few releases out that have met with some success. This generation of online, independent microbusinesses and startups makes working from home on projects you care about easier than ever. I want to be a part of that: making games and, through them, telling stories I care about with the friends I've had for a long time." --Tim
"Somewhere warm because Wisconsin is cold. Haha but in all seriousness, in 10 years from now I hope to be financially stable. Not so I can swim in a pool of money, but so that my mom doesn't have to work so hard. Growing up I watched her struggle to support two kids while going to school, but somehow she did it. I want to be able to give back to her so she doesn't have to work so hard anymore." --Kayla
"So first and foremost I see myself hopefully doing something professionally that I love and that makes me happy. I don't know what that is yet but I refuse to get up in the morning and not want to go to work. Hopefully I will be married and maybe have a kid on the way. I can't wait to have a family. I see myself traveling and exploring. Devoting myself to my hobbies. Volunteering. Basically I hope that every year of my life brings me closer to what makes me happy and what's important." --Sophie
If you ask me, I hope to have my Master's in psychology and to be helping children as much as possible. I hope to be married and have a family, or at least kids soon to come. I hope to still have my close friends and my family near by. And lastly I hope to bring happiness to my husband and to my family, because what we all deeply want in life is happiness!
So now thinking about all of these responses, where do you think you'll be in 10 years?
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
