SZA Slams AI Music, Says Artistes Must Protect Their Creative Identity

Grammy-winning singer SZA has launched a fiery attack on artificial intelligence in music, calling AI-generated songs “disgusting” and urging artists to protect their creative work from exploitation. In a series of Instagram posts, the singer accused producer Diplo of backing AI music platform Suno and alleged that the technology is being trained using the work of talented Black writers and producers.

“If you’re a musician and you support this… you’re disgusting,” SZA wrote. “Do not give away your genius.”

The singer argued that Black creatives have long shaped global music despite making up a small percentage of the U.S. population, warning that AI could profit from their originality without adequate legal protection.

Calling on fellow musicians to resist feeding AI models with their work, SZA said artists must safeguard what makes their brands unique. Her comments come as the entertainment industry continues to debate the growing role of artificial intelligence in music creation, with many artists raising concerns over copyright, ownership and the future of human creativity.

Responding to the criticism, Suno defended its technology, insisting its AI is designed to create original music rather than copy existing artists. The company said it has built safeguards to prevent misuse and does not train its models to imitate specific musicians. SZA’s outburst adds to a growing chorus of musicians demanding stronger protections as AI rapidly reshapes the creative industry.