SZA Criticizes AI Music in Viral i-D Magazine Interview

SZA Slams AI Music as "Offensive" and "Stereotypical Struggle Music"

In a new interview with i-D Magazine, the Grammy winner warns that AI-generated tracks are a "war" on creativity that harms emerging artists like Olivia Dean.

Marcus J. Delany

Mar 6, 2026, 4:25 PM PT · 1 min read

SZA at Lollapalooza 2015 — Photo: swimfinfan from Chicago / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

THE RUNDOWN

SZA criticized AI music in a cover story for i-D Magazine.
She called synthetic versions of Black music "offensive" and "stereotypical."
The singer claims AI covers steal revenue from human artists like Olivia Dean.
SZA described the rise of generative AI as a "war" on intellectual property.

Grammy-winning artist SZA is speaking out against the rise of artificial intelligence in the music industry. In a wide-ranging interview for i-D Magazine’s "The Lore Issue" published on March 6, 2026, the singer described the trend of AI-generated vocals as a "war" on human creativity and intellectual property. She expressed deep concern over how these synthetic tracks are being marketed and consumed by listeners.

The singer, born Solána Imani Rowe, was particularly vocal about how AI handles Black music. She labeled many AI-generated covers "offensive" and described them as "weird, stereotypical struggle music." SZA told i-D that these algorithms often lean into caricatures of R&B and soul rather than capturing the actual nuance and soul of the human performers they mimic.

Beyond the artistic critique, SZA highlighted the financial toll on the industry. She argued that the popularity of AI-generated content is diverting revenue and attention away from stars like Olivia Dean following her major chart breakthrough and Grammy win for Best New Artist. "It’s basically a war on our intellectual property," SZA stated, urging the industry to prioritize the authenticity of real human voices over digital imitations.