Why I Don't Use AI as a Songwriter
- Michelle Monette
- Dec 15, 2025
- 5 min read
Artificial Intelligence is seemingly everywhere these days with many people eagerly adopting and incorporating one or more AI systems into their work and lives. AI reduces (and in some cases, eliminates) the time and effort it takes to do many things, including making music.
Despite the potential advantages of AI, I have chosen not to use it when I write songs.
This is due, in part, to me being a slow adopter of new technology generally—not to be a luddite or contrarian, but because I’m reluctant to make changes to my existing systems and processes when they’re already working well for me. When I do add something new, it is only after a great deal of thought and consideration.
But when it comes to why I don’t use AI as a songwriter, there is more to my refusal of this ubiquitous new technology. I’ve distilled my reasons into three main categories: The experience, the transformation, and the songs.
The Experience
Having finished tracks to share with others is not the only reason why I write songs. I’m a songwriter because I love songwriting. I revel in the entire process, from the first spark of an idea igniting into a world of aural possibility, through the twists and turns of its development, to its final form as a tangible song. I cannot imagine myself ever willingly handing over a single step in this process to AI.
I am also not interested in writing songs faster or reducing the challenges that are a natural part of making music, except through improving at my craft. I prefer to give every piece of music the time it takes to write and relish witnessing a song’s evolution over time. By sitting down to work on a song again and again, I often end up with something I wouldn’t have imagined when I first began. Once a song is done, I never get to have the experience of writing it again, so I make sure to savour every moment. Using AI to speed up this process I love so much feels counterintuitive when viewed through that lens.
Even the more challenging aspects of writing a song are valuable to me. For example, lyrics tend to take me longer to write than do melodies or guitar parts, which come more naturally to me. But the euphoria of finding just the right lyric after stretching my brain—for what can sometimes be multiple hours over the course of several days—is one of the highlights of just about every song I write. I doubt writing lyrics with the help of AI would be nearly as satisfying.
The Transformation
Every song I write allows me to grow in ways I otherwise would not have, as both an artist and a musician. Songwriting allows me to integrate and internalize everything I’ve learned, listened to, and practiced diligently. If I want to truly take ownership of a technique I’m learning or a concept I’m wanting to understand, creating my own music with it is the best way for me to do that. I suspect that if I used AI to help me with a part of a song, I wouldn’t absorb everything in nearly the same way.
Writing music is also a fantastic way to target what I call the three areas of musical development: Proficiency, musicianship, and artistry. In order to write a song, I require the necessary skills and understanding to do so—vocally, instrumentally, and musically—and I need to know who I am or who I’m trying to be musically. Each song invites me to become more than I was previously on all three fronts in order to finish it. Using AI would deprive me of this same level and depth of improvement.
The Songs
I deeply value the relationship I have with every one of my songs. They reflect who I am—even when they aren’t directly about me—and offer snapshots of various moments in my life, helping me track my growth as a musician, artist, and person. Sometimes a song can even reveal something about me I wasn’t previously aware of. In this way, songwriting has been a useful part of moving me forward on my personal journey as well.
This connection with my songs also comes through my songwriting process itself. An essential part of writing songs for me involves listening carefully for what the song is asking of me. If I give myself enough time and space to feel into it, a song will guide me to exactly what it needs. In actuality, it doesn't feel to me like I’m the one writing my songs as much as I am co-writing them with the songs themselves. In order to do this properly, I need to leave my ego, expectations, and assumptions at the door and take my time to listen for what will truly fit. If instead I were to rush for the aid of AI to finish a lyric, melody, or chord progression, I doubt I would feel the same depth of connection. Strong relationships require listening, and music is no exception.
In addition to my own experience with my songs, I want those who listen to my music to know they’re hearing me. My words, notes, artistic choices, thoughts, and feelings—no matter how flawed or limited they may be. Not every listener will resonate with my songs, but I never want the reason why to be because they could not hear and feel my humanity. My music is certainly not perfect but, most importantly to me, it is real and it is mine.
Conclusion
As it stands now, I sincerely doubt I’ll ever adopt AI to use when I make music. There’s too much at stake for me, between my love of the songwriting process, the ways in which I grow through writing, and how myself and others connect with my songs. I personally prefer to continue building on what I have that’s already working and to do what I can to strengthen the areas where I need to improve.
I’d like to hear your thoughts. Is AI a part of your songwriting process, or do you also refrain from using it? Please feel free to leave me a comment.
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