SZA has fired a scathing broadside at the music industry's reckless use of artificial intelligence, condemning those who exploit her work without permission. The Grammy-winning artist took to Instagram Stories to share a damning discovery: over 200 of her songs – potentially including unreleased material – have been used to train AI music software.
In a searing rebuke, SZA labelled the practice "degenerate sh*t", accusing those who support it of being "disgusting". This latest salvo is part of a long-standing battle she's waged against AI technology, which she tackled head-on in her 2022 album 'SOS' – and particularly in the track 'Ghost in the Machine'. Her concerns go beyond mere indignation, though: SZA believes AI is fostering a crisis within the music industry that disproportionately affects Black artists.
She pointed to the proliferation of AI covers for emerging artists like Olivia Dean, while she's still fighting for recognition. "It's happening with Black music," SZA exclaimed in an earlier interview, questioning why these AI-fuelled knock-offs keep cropping up when talented artists are struggling to break through. The artist also took umbrage at the "weird, stereotypical struggle music" generated by AI, arguing it misrepresents Black artistic expression.
The row over AI in music reached a fever pitch last year with the emergence of Xania Monet – an AI-generated artist who secured a multi-million-dollar record deal and charted on the US Billboard rankings. Fellow artists like Kehlani have joined SZA in voicing concerns, lamenting that it feels "beyond out of our control" and allows music to be created without proper credit to original copyrighted works.
As the world grapples with the ethics of AI, the Pope has weighed in, calling for stricter regulations to prioritise the common good. This is just one strand of a global debate about how to manage AI's rapid advancements, protect intellectual property, and ensure fair compensation for creators in an ever-changing digital landscape.