A St. John’s musician voices strong concerns over the rising use of AI-generated content in the arts. Rachel Cousins observes fellow artists turning to artificial intelligence for cover art, promotional posters, and even music creation.

“AI is used for everything they’re doing when it comes to making music and the visuals behind it,” Cousins states.

She highlights the potential harm to local creators and the vital human element in artistic expression. “Art is very human to me, and it always has been. I think that art comes with emotion and experience,” she explains. “What a shame to have a machine try and spit anything out at me that I’ve felt and it hasn’t.”

Boosting Local Artists Instead of AI

Cousins recognizes the cost pressures that drive musicians to AI for gig posters but stresses that hiring local talent supports the community economy. “There’s so many brilliant artists who would absolutely die for the opportunity to make a poster for somebody for 50 bucks,” she notes.

She promotes alternatives like designing work personally or teaming up with friends. “I don’t care if they’re bad. I just want them to be real and human,” Cousins emphasizes.

AI’s Growing Presence in Music Streaming

Cousins also points to a surge in partially or fully AI-created music. On platforms like Spotify, artificial acts proliferate, including Sienna Rose, whose tracks debuted in 2025 and now draw 3.8 million monthly listeners globally. Reports indicate her output is AI-generated.

“I think it’s a shame that there are people listening to AI and maybe even crying to an AI song,” she says. “They’re not real. They’ve never felt those emotions before.”

Protecting Newfoundland and Labrador’s Creative Scene

In Newfoundland and Labrador, preserving human-made art sustains the region’s distinctive artistic community, Cousins argues. “People across Canada notice that special community that we have here. And I don’t want to lose that,” she states. “I think we’re kind of expected to, as a people, fall into this AI hole right now. And I’m just hoping that people kind of start questioning more what they can do differently.”

Cousins released her debut EP in 2017 and has since dropped three albums. She holds nominations in three categories at this year’s East Coast Music Awards.