Human

AI in music: tool or threat? Creatives weigh in

"I've worked so hard to get to this point in my life as a musician, now I have to compete with a computer where somebody just types in a prompt." That worry from music education freshman Miles DuPree isn't rare. It's the tension most creatives feel right now: protect the craft or use the tech.

What musicians fear most

DuPree's stance is clear: music is human first. If it isn't created by people, it falls flat. "I really don't respect people who mainly use AI to create music because it undermines [the process of] creating music from scratch," he said. "You just don't want to listen to something artificial."

Freshman Ricky Saucedo shares a similar concern, especially for students. If AI models recycle from existing work, he worries learners will start recycling too. "AI doesn't allow that because AI music is just a reference taken from other artists," he said.

Creativity vs. convenience

The biggest risk isn't technical. It's mental. "It's going to foster thoughts of 'well, I don't want to work on this on my own, I'm just going to put it through a machine and whatever it pops out, I'm gonna go with that,'" Saucedo said.

Quality still matters

Composer and MSU Associate Professor David Biedenbender calls AI "extraordinary" but warns against lazy use. "If AI is going to replace what a human once did, I think it's important to ask why. If you're using it because it's cheaper and easier than a human, then you're probably not using it well."

He's not convinced AI can match great human work. "One of the reasons I'm in music is to connect with other humans... With AI, I still haven't been wowed in that way."

Using AI like instruments, not replacements

DJ duo Fracker and Nan (economics and creative advertising juniors Adnan Khambaty and Charlie Fracker) use AI for grunt work, not vision. Stem separation helps them isolate parts of a track for cleaner blends-useful, fast, and out of the way. "If you're just using it as your drill or your hammer, that's one thing, but to completely replace your crew is ethically irresponsible," Fracker said.

Originality is their edge. "If [the use of AI] becomes more advanced, I feel like all music will be the same, it'll just be boring," Khambaty said. "Being different is the thing that will keep you going."

For context on stems, see a primer on audio source separation.

DJ apps: on-ramp or crutch?

Finance junior Armaan Pirzada (DJ Zada) sees AI-assisted DJ apps as a gateway. They give beginners a taste of mixing and can nudge them to buy gear and learn the real craft. But he's wary of DJs letting software do the set. "That just takes the fun out of it... I want to try new things and be unique," he said.

Practical guardrails for creatives

• Use AI for speed, not taste. Offload stems, cleanup, arrangement drafts. Keep decisions human.
• Own the intent. Start with a clear concept or emotion, then use tools to execute-not the other way around.
• Iterate past the first output. Treat AI results like sketches. Refine, edit, re-record, and arrange until it sounds like you.
• Document sources and influences. If you reference styles or datasets, keep notes. It helps with credits and ethics.
• Protect your voice. Build a signature sound library (textures, chains, motifs) so your work remains identifiable.
• Stay legal. AI doesn't exempt you from copyright. Read the latest guidance from the U.S. Copyright Office on AI and copyright.

What won't change

The industry isn't getting replaced anytime soon. The difference between human-made and AI-made music is still obvious-sonically and emotionally. As Fracker put it, "Listening to and creating music is such a human thing... it will never replace human quality."

Want to skill up without losing your voice?

If you're a creative looking to integrate AI responsibly-without outsourcing your taste-browse curated options here: AI courses by job. Pick tools that save you time, not your originality.