Grammy-winning artist SZA is making it clear: she’s not here for the unchecked rise of artificial intelligence, and she’s calling out the environmental and racial consequences that many have ignored.
In a passionate statement shared on her Instagram Stories, the 35-year-old singer (born Solána Rowe) accused AI systems of being both environmentally destructive and deeply harmful to Black and Brown communities, particularly in cities like Memphis, which she says are suffering due to corporate AI infrastructure.
The post featured a meme with The X-Files actress Gillian Anderson that read “Yeah, I use AI” — but beneath it, “Actual Imagination” was crossed out, a pointed jab at AI’s replacement of human creativity. SZA didn’t hold back in the caption.
“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 Twitter’s new AI system. PLEASE JUST GOOGLE ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM,” she wrote.
She followed the warning with a blunt truth bomb:
“AI doesn’t give a f*** if you live or die I promise. THERE IS A PRICE FOR CONVENIENCE AND BLACK AND BROWN [COMMUNITIES] WILL PAY THE BRUNT OF IT EVERY TIME. We won’t get it till it’s too late. Y’all don’t hear me tho.”
Linking AI and Environmental Racism
SZA’s post echoes growing concerns among environmental justice advocates who argue that the energy demands of AI technologies — particularly those powering large data centers — are accelerating climate degradation and disproportionately impacting low-income, minority communities. In cities like Memphis, local activists have raised alarms about air and water pollution, increased power consumption, and infrastructure strain tied to new AI and tech developments.
A Cultural Critique with Urgency
Her comments aren’t just about AI — they’re about whose lives are valued in the march toward convenience and innovation. By linking AI to environmental racism, SZA joins a chorus of Black creatives, climate advocates, and community leaders demanding greater accountability from tech giants profiting off AI with little regard for social and environmental cost.
This isn’t the first time the “Kill Bill” singer has spoken out on social justice. But her direct appeal to “just Google it” underscores how accessible — and yet ignored — this information remains.
The Cost of Convenience
SZA’s plea highlights a broader reckoning in the entertainment and tech worlds. While AI is often hailed for its efficiency and innovation, critics argue it’s being embraced without fully grappling with the invisible price tag: toxic emissions, increased energy consumption, and widening racial disparities.
Whether the industry listens remains to be seen. But as SZA put it:
“Y’all don’t hear me tho.”
