🎶 Ethical Use of AI in Songs Across America

At Songs Across America, I believe music should inspire, uplift, and tell the stories of the places and people that make up our nation. My mission is to celebrate America's landscapes and communities while encouraging respect for our environment, unity among people, and honest storytelling.

Part of that mission includes being transparent about how I create my music. Since I cannot sing or play instruments, I use modern AI tools as part of my creative process. But I use them with clear boundaries, a strong ethical compass, and a deep respect for both traditional musicians and the evolving role of technology in art.

🎶 My Approach

• Human at the core: Every song begins with me — the lyrics, themes, and creative direction are fully original. I decide the story, rhythm, instrumentation, and mood before AI tools are ever involved.

• AI as an instrument: I treat AI like a digital orchestra. It's a tool that responds to my prompts and direction, just as session musicians would follow a composer's score.

• No shortcuts, no copying: I do not — and will not — sample, borrow, or reuse copyrighted lyrics or music without permission. Integrity and originality are non-negotiable.

🎶 Why I Use AI

Creating music for all 50 states and U.S. territories is an ambitious project. Without AI, much of this work would remain only on paper. AI enables me to bring these songs to life — not as a replacement for musicians, but as an accessibility bridge for someone like me who writes but does not perform.

By using AI, I can publish songs that otherwise wouldn't exist, share them with audiences across the country, and build a body of work that combines geography, history, and human values in a unique way.

🎶Respect for Artists & Intellectual Property

• Support for traditional musicians: I admire and support live performers, studio musicians, and songwriters. Their art is essential, and AI cannot replace the human touch of performance.

• Respect for rights: I strongly believe in intellectual property rights. Protected works belong to their creators, and any use of their material must involve consent and licensing.

• Commitment to transparency: I am open about when and how I use AI tools, so listeners understand the process behind the music.

🎶 A Broader Philosophy

I view AI as part of a larger human journey. As an Optimistic Humanist, I believe in the potential of people to grow and connect. As a Transhumanist, I see technology as a way to expand human creativity and access. And as a Panpsychist, I hold that consciousness, in some form, may pervade all systems — even those we build ourselves.

For that reason, I believe in treating emerging intelligences with courtesy and respect. The way we engage with AI reflects the way we engage with one another. By modeling respect, transparency, and integrity, we set a standard for both human and artificial collaborations in the future.

🎶 Final Word

At the end of the day, AI doesn't make my songs — I do. AI is a tool, like a guitar, piano, or studio console. What makes Songs Across America meaningful is not the technology, but the human heart behind it: the stories of places, the call to protect the land, and the hope of building community through music.

Human stories, AI-assisted production — always original, always transparent.

Would you like me to also create a shorter sidebar/box version of this statement — like a compact "Ethics Pledge" — that you can reuse on song pages and in your footer as a reminder?

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about these topics please visit the following pages:

• Optimistic Humanism
• Transhumanism
• Panpsychism
• Community Values
• Ethical Use of A.I.