An Open Letter to Those Who Think AI Art Isn’t Human Art

By Richard Murrey, a Songwriter, Artist, and Storyteller Who’s Seen It All

I’ve spent over 50 years creating.

Songs. Paintings. Stories.

But because there was something in me that needed to be shared with the world.

Not for fame. Not for fortune.

Today, I hear a lot of talk—especially from legal voices and internet critics—that “AI art isn’t real art,” that “you can’t copyright AI-generated work,” because, they say, it wasn’t made by a human.

To that, I say: You’ve missed the point entirely.

Yes, I use AI tools. I write songs with them. I bring old dreams to life with them.

But I don’t just press a button and walk away. I craft. I sculpt. I prompt.

And here’s what you don’t understand unless you’ve done it yourself:

The prompt is not a command—it’s a vision.

It’s a carefully chosen string of words, informed by a lifetime of experience.

It’s storytelling.

It’s composition.

It’s intention.

It’s authorship.

When I write a prompt, I’m not automating creativity—I’m collaborating with a tool. Just like a painter uses brushes. Just like a songwriter uses a guitar.

The brush doesn’t paint the picture.

The guitar doesn’t write the song.

And the AI doesn’t dream the dream.

I do.

Every prompt I write carries my voice. My style. My soul.

If you’ve never felt the rush of getting just the right tone, the right image, the right line from an AI that you guided into shape—then I understand why you might think it’s magic.

But let me assure you—it’s not magic. It’s craft.

And if copyright law doesn’t recognize that?

Well, then maybe it’s not the art that needs redefining.

Maybe it’s the law.

Richard Murrey

A creator who’s still evolving

Still dreaming

Still writing

Even if the skies have turned to brass

Written by the man behind 704 original tunes, 711 videos, and not done yet.

Art and music can help

It don’t have to rhyme. —Richard Murrey

Yours in expanding, revolving, limitless, spiraling consciousness,

To our better health, ease, and sustaining lives of JOY!

Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.

About us

My husband is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (with over 400 original songs).

Here’s a video of us performing on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share

My books on Amazon

I have four books on Amazon. The two most recent are: Have Yourself a Wholly Vibrant Life: Reversing Asthma and Other Chronic Illness Naturally and Blue Eyes: Ethereal Messages of Connection.

Connect with us

Here are the social channels where I am most active:

21 thoughts on “Integrating the Spirals: An Open Letter to Those Who Think AI Art Isn’t Human Art”

  1. The technology doesn’t replace the human.It requires the human. Nice you sharing for human & AI generate between. Good song .

    God blessing 🙏

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  2. Richard, as others do too, certainly builds his songs with thoughtful progress. We have both reflected on the machinations of how songs are realised Sheila. As you said regarding the capturing of songs from decades ago and up to now, the technology has always been there. An electric guitar with hundreds of floor pedal choices to change what we hear from those same six strings tightly wound and strummed and plucked and tuned or detuned to provide different dynamics. Moog synthesisers to electronic drum kits. Analogue tape to digital capture.

    But what it all had/has was/is the element of creative human intervention. Richard, and others, give self creative contributions. Filmed work for movies with CGI or real actors faces being changed to look younger all involve humans being creative. And using technology to achieve results.

    Myself? Never used AI at all. Only when typing a Google search question where Google throws it back at you with an AI tool for finding you answers. You know me Sheila. Vintage is my mantra. But still involves those times where convenience is used. A CD plays on a car journey through speakers. Vinyl plays at home sometimes through really decent headphones to enhance the listening experience. MP3 Walkman is carried and plays on a jogging/running/walking exercise jaunt through ear buds. Horses for courses.

    Interesting blog Sheila. Cheers.

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    1. Oh, right about the thoughtful uses of all if this technology, Gray. I quit using Google for searches years ago. I even put Ecosia on my phone (have had it on my laptop for 6-7 years).

      I just had to embrace this AI song generator because it’s helped Richard so much. But I am slowing way down on the use of it myself, so I can play with my fountain pen, and now, plant my plants/seeds, it’s nearly time! Ha! In a day or two it will be in the 60s (degrees farenheit that is) outside! Yay!

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      1. You both chose exactly the right way to go concerning Richard’s music. And also your own excursions to support your writing themes. Sounds like you have a full and busy life. Good you are into art and gardening aims too. Both are very therapeutic. Nice life balance with all your interests. Cheers Sheila.

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      2. Thank you so much, Gray. Yes, I am always aiming for balance, though I must say, I have definitely been lazy this winter. Of course, as you pointed out previously, many creatures hibernate in winter, so I won’t feel guilty for laying around more. Spring shall beckon me to put a spring in my step! Ha!

        Here’s to you finding a good rhythm/flow with Frankie fellow to create more too! Cheers!

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  4. No artist that I know approves of A.I. as original art. For one thing, A.I. absorbs (or steals) work created by real humans to make a representation of what the prompter wants. That’s one reason so much A.I. art looks the same. I swear, I’ve seen the same female face over and over again. I don’t follow writers who use A.I. to write because it’s not genuine. It’s not original. I don’t need a tool to write. Corporations will use A.I. because it’s cheaper and more manageable than hiring a real human.

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    1. I totally understand, Dawn. My husband did so much clip art back in the say, he believes a lot of it (not only his, but clip art from others), is used/reused by AI now.

      I have been adamantly opposed to AI, then on the fence, and now, after watching how he uses it, I am leaning into his take on it. It’s still allowing him to be creative after losing so much of his guitar playing skill after he had a stroke Oct. 2022.

      His brother has done 3D art for decades and has embraced the AI art tools. He provides Richard with a lot of the images for Richard’s songs/YouTube videos.

      We have done a lot of research on it, and hashing it out over the last year or so. I appreciate your comment.

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      2. Great point, Dawn! Yes, there are a lot of AI programs. I don’t use any to write with, but I used to use Grammarly (which has AI built into it), to correct and edit my typos. I felt I learned enough from it after a while though and quit using it.

        Now after watching my husband create songs using an AI song generator, and seeing his brother create brilliant art pieces using AI (both have had long careers in commercial art), I have warmed up to it. “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” comes to mind. Ha! I just don’t think AI is going away, so I will feed it good things whenever I use it. At least that’s how I feel about it today.

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  5. Interesting take. My issue is that you have all of the skills to do what you do at a high level. AI allows those who don’t have the skills to pretend. Rick Beato had an excellent vlog on this posted on YouTube. As a person (me) who was super sensitive to other musicians who cut and pasted in Cubase instead of playing out the song, AI gets a bit under my skin. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this emerging technology.

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  6. Sheila — great post. AI-assisted art is still human art.

    The tool doesn’t matter. What matters is the human behind it — the vision, the refinement, the authorship.

    People saying “you can’t copyright AI art” are either misinformed or ignoring the facts. In the U.S., AI-generated work can be copyrighted if it involves meaningful human input and creative control. You can’t just click a button and own it — but if you guide it, shape it, and inject original intent, you’ve created something that’s legally protected.

    That’s already been acknowledged by the U.S. Copyright Office, and other countries like the UK, Canada, and Japan are following similar logic. The law is catching up — just not all at once.

    Bottom line:
    The technology doesn’t replace the human.
    It requires the human.

    And anyone who’s actually used these tools knows — it takes more artistry, not less. 😎

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