It Causes Environmental Racism, Pollution

The only AI program SZA is interested in using is the one she naturally has: “Actual Imagination.” In a series of recent Instagram interactions, the singer criticized the damaging use of artificial intelligence programs that consume vital resources to function, such as ChatGPT and Elon Musk’s chatbot, Grok.

“Ai is killing and polluting black and brown cities,” SZA wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, July 15. “None of you care cause your codependent on a machine. Have a great life.”

Later that day, SZA circled back to emphasize her warning about the dangers of prolonged and normalized everyday use of AI. “Please google how much energy and pollution it takes to run Ai .. please google the beautiful black cities like Memphis that are SUFFERING because of twitters new Ai system,” she wrote in a comment that she later re-posted to her Instagram Story.

Last year, Musk opened an AI data center in Memphis that sparked concern from the city’s community and environmental groups about its potential for pollution and excessive water usage. “This continues a legacy of billion-dollar conglomerates who think that they can do whatever they want to do, and the community is just not to be considered,” KeShaun Pearson, executive director of the nonprofit Memphis Community Against Pollution, told TIME. “They treat southwest Memphis as just a corporate watering hole where they can get water at a cheaper price and a place to dump all their residue without any real oversight or governance.” 

SZA called it out for being exactly what it is: “PLEASE JUST GOOGLE ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM.” According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, environmental racism is defined as “the intentional siting of polluting and waste facilities in communities primarily populated by African Americans, Latines, Indigenous People, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, migrant farmworkers, and low-income workers.”

“Al doesn’t give a fuck if you live or die I promise,” she added. “THERE IS A PRICE FOR CONVENIENCE AND BLACK AND BROWN WILL PAY THE BRUNT OF IT EVERY-TIME. We won’t get it til it’s too late. Yall don’t hear me tho. Love u regardless.”

When re-sharing the comment on her Instagram Story, SZA concluded: “I really meant this and I’m deeply concerned .. pls care.”