Introduction
I am Joe Hackman. I spent the week under the weather and yet had some of the most surprising, meaningful encounters I have ever had with technology, especially AI. In a couple of days, I went from casually exploring an AI music tool to publishing a track on a major platform, and from highlighting a book the old fashioned way to using AI as a live reading companion. What I found was not novelty but agency. AI gave me new ways to create, to connect, and to understand.
The Moment AI Music Got Personal
I came across an AI app that generates music after a tech friend shared children’s songs he had made with a recent version and called it a leap forward. I had not used earlier versions, but as a lifelong music lover, I was curious.
There is plenty of debate around AI made art. Is it less real, or does it make everything sound the same? For me, music’s value lies in the emotion it evokes. We adapted to synthesizers, samplers, and digital production; AI is another tool in that evolving toolkit. If our tastes are the compass, the model can be steered to follow. As those tastes change, so can the output.
From Prompt to Something That Mattered
My first attempt was forgettable. Then I found a direction that mattered. A close friend is facing serious health challenges. He introduced me to country music, and we have spent time together in the mountains. I wrote a song around that experience.
What emerged surprised me. I am a practiced prompt engineer, but the resulting song was beautiful and personal, something I wanted to listen to and feel. The process took about two hours and felt almost timeless. It reminded me how intimate music is and how revolutionary it feels to shape it yourself, even if you are not a traditional musician.
Sharing It, Carefully
Sharing music is deeply emotional for me, almost spiritual. I am mindful of privacy, so I will not share details without my friend’s consent. I did share the song with him and his family, and they were moved. That alone was the point, to offer a brighter moment.
Publishing became its own journey. I explored distribution services that place tracks on platforms like Spotify and iTunes. I ran into some limitations with iTunes but got the track onto Spotify. Friends and family sent warm feedback. That beginner’s luck nudged me to keep going. Suddenly, I had agency over my own playlist. I could make something new and personal and have it live alongside the music I love.
Reading, Rewired: Using AI as a Thought Partner
The other big shift started with a book a family member recommended. I had been feeling disconnected from reading, so I picked up a physical copy and decided to engage deeply with notes and questions. Instead of highlighters, I opened an AI session to take notes and test ideas as I read.
That small change felt profound. I could:
- Fact check in the moment
- Surface the author’s possible biases
- Explore the quality of sources and claims
- Ask follow up questions until the concept clicked
It made the text come alive and kept my curiosity moving. AI is not infallible, but as a tool for thinking, it feels remarkably human in its approach, iterative, conversational, and curious.
What AI Did and Did Not Change
- AI did not replace the emotion. It enhanced the path to it. The meaning in the song came from a real relationship, real places, and real feelings. The tool helped me turn that into sound.
- Homogeneity is not inevitable. Our tastes guide the output. If we ask for nuance, surprise, and specificity, the models can deliver and adapt as our preferences evolve.
- Agency is the real breakthrough. Whether it is music, research, or ideas, AI puts more creative and intellectual control in our hands. That is exciting and a responsibility.
If You Are Curious, Try This
For music
- Start with a story or emotion you care about.
- Give the AI a clear vibe, genre, and a few vivid images.
- Iterate until it feels right.
For reading
- Pair a physical book with an AI note taking session.
- Ask questions, challenge claims, and test the author’s assumptions.
- Use it to deepen your understanding, not replace it.
Conclusion
This week reminded me that new mediums are not only about efficiency. They are about connection, to ourselves, to others, and to the ideas and art that move us. AI may not be perfect, but used thoughtfully, it can be a powerful, human centered tool. If this resonates, try it. Make a song. Read with a curious AI at your side. See how these tools reshape your creative and intellectual life.
Thanks for spending a few minutes with me. Here is to finding new ways to listen, learn, and share.
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