Over 12 million tracks are currently being used to train AI systems without permission, and SZA has found her name in the mix.
The Atlantic’s AI Watchdog project recently identified that more than 12 million songs are unlawfully included in development datasets. SZA discovered that 238 of her own tracks appear in these giant song collections used to build AI models. She is not happy about it.
On her private Instagram account, NotMusicAtAllISwear, the singer-songwriter condemned anyone supporting the use of AI in music. “If you’re a musician and you support this degenerate shit, you’re disgusting and there’s nothing you could ever say to me to make this okay,” she wrote alongside a screenshot of the AI Watchdog search engine.
SZA targets Diplo
In a separate post, she specifically called out Diplo. “I don’t know who needs to hear this but Diplo has equity in Suno and is actively attempting to train it on the best and brightest black minds of writers and producers,” she said.
Back in April, Diplo appeared on the Behind The Wall podcast and praised AI. During the interview, the producer admitted he prefers AI-generated voices over real singers nowadays. “I don’t even need a voice any more – I can get the best voice from AI,” he said. “I don’t need anybody to sing the song any more.”
More producers taking a shine to AI-generated voices will have a severe knock on effect on real singers. As SZA points out, training AI on the work of black musicians such as herself is another way of the music industry undercutting and exploiting black minds. “We make up 13% of the American population yet influence the world with our sound and perspective,” she explained.
“We have no protection in legislature medical or creative – the easiest to steal from…” she continued. “Do not train AI with your genius! Fuck these weird ass vultures.”
Anger bubbling for months
SZA’s anger towards AI has been bubbling beneath the surface for quite some time. In May, the singer commented on guitarist Sophie Burrell’s Instagram post exposing an AI deepfake account cloning her performance videos.
“I am so genuinely offended,” SZA wrote in support of the guitarist. “Hurts more that streaming services and our labels won’t protect or advocate for us. We mean nothing to anyone omg.”
What it means
This conflict highlights a growing divide between artists who feel their work is being stripped of value and the developers pushing AI tools forward. SZA’s stance suggests that musicians are increasingly unwilling to let their catalogues fuel technology that bypasses human labour. The lack of legal protection for creative works means artists must rely on public pressure to stop their music from being used without consent.
