Stop School of Rock, Colorado Springs, from using generative AI
The Issue
This season, and possibly more, School of Rock Colorado Springs made use of generative AI for the show posters. Myself and many of my friends that go to School of Rock have been disappointed by this, and even embarrassed. AI has been proven to be bad for artists and just humans in general time and time again, making it distasteful to see anyone, let alone a company based in creativity, use AI. AI creates its "original" images by absorbing all the information it can possibly access, using the styles and artwork of anyone who puts it online. Many artists have spoken out about how this has personally affected them, as it takes away their income. Music, is a type of art. There has already been cases of AI generated music showing up online, using data from real musicians and stealing their income. Along with this, music is innately human, along with all other arts. Art comes from emotion and creativity, as a music school this is encouraged for students, yet it seems insincere if they use AI, which takes away the human aspect of art. Not only this, but AI support furthers its development and takeover, expanding its power and water use. Currently the biggest use of water industrially is corn, but as we rely more and more on AI, it needs more water. It isn't a huge issue currently but continually using it will lead to more and water needed, and we already use too much. So, why not cut it out where you can. Plus, as AI gets better as it trains more, and using it trains it, you are helping it get better by using it. There has already been cases of AI being used for countless horrible things, so why help it continue. Plus, AI use is giving more power to the rich elite.
Works Cited
Cress, Laura. “Woman Felt “Dehumanised” after Musk’s Grok AI Used to Digitally Remove Her Clothes.” The BBC, 2 Jan. 2026, www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98p1r4e6m8o Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Hank Green. “The State of the AI Industry Is Freaking Me Out.” YouTube, 16 Oct. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0TpWitfxPk Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Hank Green. “Why Is Everyone so Wrong about AI Water Use??” YouTube, 8 Dec. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_c6MWk7PQc Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Kuta, Sarah. “Viral Lists Reveal Artists Whose Work May Have Trained an A.I. Art Generator.” Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2024, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lists-artists-artificial-intelligence-art-generator-180983546/ Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Nataliya Kos'myna, and et. al. “Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt When Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task – MIT Media Lab.” MIT Media Lab, 10 June 2025, www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/ Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Silverstein, Ken. “America’s AI Boom Is Running into an Unplanned Water Problem.” Forbes, 11 Jan. 2026, www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2026/01/11/americas-ai-boom-is-running-into-an-unplanned-water-problem/ Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
team, CLRN. “How Does AI Training Work? - California Learning Resource Network.” California Learning Resource Network, 11 Jan. 2025, www.clrn.org/how-does-ai-training-work/ Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
TED. “How AI Models Steal Creative Work — and What to Do about It | Ed Newton-Rex | TED.” YouTube, 19 Mar. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9d0p96N1iw Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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The Issue
This season, and possibly more, School of Rock Colorado Springs made use of generative AI for the show posters. Myself and many of my friends that go to School of Rock have been disappointed by this, and even embarrassed. AI has been proven to be bad for artists and just humans in general time and time again, making it distasteful to see anyone, let alone a company based in creativity, use AI. AI creates its "original" images by absorbing all the information it can possibly access, using the styles and artwork of anyone who puts it online. Many artists have spoken out about how this has personally affected them, as it takes away their income. Music, is a type of art. There has already been cases of AI generated music showing up online, using data from real musicians and stealing their income. Along with this, music is innately human, along with all other arts. Art comes from emotion and creativity, as a music school this is encouraged for students, yet it seems insincere if they use AI, which takes away the human aspect of art. Not only this, but AI support furthers its development and takeover, expanding its power and water use. Currently the biggest use of water industrially is corn, but as we rely more and more on AI, it needs more water. It isn't a huge issue currently but continually using it will lead to more and water needed, and we already use too much. So, why not cut it out where you can. Plus, as AI gets better as it trains more, and using it trains it, you are helping it get better by using it. There has already been cases of AI being used for countless horrible things, so why help it continue. Plus, AI use is giving more power to the rich elite.
Works Cited
Cress, Laura. “Woman Felt “Dehumanised” after Musk’s Grok AI Used to Digitally Remove Her Clothes.” The BBC, 2 Jan. 2026, www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98p1r4e6m8o Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Hank Green. “The State of the AI Industry Is Freaking Me Out.” YouTube, 16 Oct. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0TpWitfxPk Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Hank Green. “Why Is Everyone so Wrong about AI Water Use??” YouTube, 8 Dec. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_c6MWk7PQc Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Kuta, Sarah. “Viral Lists Reveal Artists Whose Work May Have Trained an A.I. Art Generator.” Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2024, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lists-artists-artificial-intelligence-art-generator-180983546/ Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Nataliya Kos'myna, and et. al. “Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt When Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task – MIT Media Lab.” MIT Media Lab, 10 June 2025, www.media.mit.edu/publications/your-brain-on-chatgpt/ Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Silverstein, Ken. “America’s AI Boom Is Running into an Unplanned Water Problem.” Forbes, 11 Jan. 2026, www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2026/01/11/americas-ai-boom-is-running-into-an-unplanned-water-problem/ Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
team, CLRN. “How Does AI Training Work? - California Learning Resource Network.” California Learning Resource Network, 11 Jan. 2025, www.clrn.org/how-does-ai-training-work/ Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
TED. “How AI Models Steal Creative Work — and What to Do about It | Ed Newton-Rex | TED.” YouTube, 19 Mar. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9d0p96N1iw Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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Petition created on January 12, 2026