AI as a Creative Collaborator in Music: Exploring Human-Centered Innovation in Large Musical Contexts

AI-driven audio tools are reshaping musical creation, yet the most consequential shift is not automation of artistry but reconfiguration of collaboration, metacognition, and quality control within large ensembles. This paper examines how generative audio models, vocal synthesis platforms, and stem-splitting technologies can function as creative partners in music arranging and composition workflows, particularly in musical contexts where artistic coordination and interpretive judgment remain paramount. We position AI in music creation as analogous to the calculator in mathematics: widely available, efficiency-enhancing, and therefore unavoidable, while still requiring disciplined human oversight to preserve intent, style, and accountability. The paper surveys practical implementation and limitations, including iterative ideation, timbral experimentation, and rapid prototyping, while also addressing ethical issues of access, authorship, and disclosure. Readers will leave with a realistic understanding about how AI can augment creative craft without displacing professional expertise. A link to a video presentation related to this paper can be found below in the Additional Files section.