SZA Calls Out Destructive AI Usage: ‘Environmental Racism’ Is the ‘Price for Convenience’
"Al doesn't give a fuck if you live or die I promise," the singer said on Instagram, warning about the dangers of using programs like ChatGPT and Grok

By Larisha Paul
July 16, 2025


“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.”

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SZA is sounding the alarm on AI and research shows she’s not wrong
"There is a price for convenience and Black and brown [people] will pay the brunt of it every-time,” SZA warns of AI.

Haniyah Philogene
Jul 16, 2025


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On Tuesday, the “SOS” singer took to Instagram to share a meme of The X-Files’ Dana Scully saying, “Yeah, I use AI. Actual Imagination.” Additionally, SZA added her own caption, writing: “AI is killing and polluting Black and Brown cities. None of you care ‘cause [you’re] codependent on a machine. Have a great life,” per Billboard.

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For instance, Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, set up a supercomputer in Memphis, Tennessee, last year. But instead of bringing opportunity, it’s bringing pollution. The Guardian reports that the facility is now one of the largest air polluters in the county and is conveniently located near historically Black neighborhoods that already battle elevated cancer rates, asthma, and shortened life spans. Boxtown, one of those communities, faces poor air quality as a result of a nearby industrial plant. Now, they’re also inhaling emissions from a facility that, according to the NAACP, never even had the proper permits.

“We cannot afford to normalize this kind of environmental injustice, where billion-dollar companies set up polluting operations in Black neighborhoods without any permits and think they’ll get away with it,” said Derrick Johnson, the NAACP’s president, to The New York Times.

“Please google how much energy and pollution it takes to run Ai,” SZA wrote in a seperate Instagram Story post. “Please google the beautiful black cities like Memphis that are SUFFERING because of twitters new Ai system. PLEASE JUST GOOGLE ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM. AI doesn’t give a f**k if you live or die I promise. THERE IS A PRICE FOR CONVENIENCE AND BLACK AND BROWN [people] WILL PAY THE BRUNT OF IT EVERY-TIME.”

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Part of SZA's philanthropy is advocating for environmental justice and spreading awareness about the climate crisis.[228][286] Following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, SZA invited fans to spend time with her after Ctrl the Tour in exchange for donating essential items such as non-perishable food, diapers, gloves, masks, trash bags, and baby food.[287] In 2019, a fan of SZA diagnosed with lupus, sickle cell disease, and Crohn's disease shared on social media that she had contributed financially toward her chemotherapy treatments and used her platform to help find a kidney donor.[288] That same year, SZA launched a merchandise line called Ctrl Fishing Company, which included apparel featuring phrases such as "Puck Flastic" and "Sustainability Gang", as well as sea animals like blue whales and seahorses.[289]

SZA has also advocated for social justice.[228] In 2021, she partnered with American Forests and tea brand Tazo to address environmental harm that disproportionally affects Black and Brown communities. The corps comprised 25 locally hired fellows trained in climate justice advocacy, tree planting, and maintenance.[228][286] SZA has voiced criticism for 45th and 47th president Donald Trump; during the 2016 presidential election, she criticized his supporters for endorsing "bigotry, lying, and xenophobia", adding that "[people were] dying from the stereotypes he perpetuates",[290] In 2024, during an Auckland show for the SOS Tour, SZA expressed her support for Palestinian rights by waving their flag as she performed and saying "Free Palestine".[291]

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In her career, SZA has received five Grammy Awards,[301] a Golden Globe nomination,[302] and an Academy Award nomination.[303] She has earned one American Music Award,[304] six Billboard Music Awards,[305] four MTV Video Music Awards,[106][306][307][308] and six BET Awards.[305] She received the "Rulebreaker Award" and "Women of the Year" at the Billboard Women in Music event in 2019 and 2023, respectively.[309] SZA has also won the Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist in 2017.[310] Billboard later ranked her at number 18 on its 2025 "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" list.[311]

In September 2022, SZA was included as one of the rising stars on the Time 100 Next List.[312] At the 2022 Grammy Awards, SZA won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Doja Cat for their collaboration "Kiss Me More".[313] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked SZA at number 180 on its list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time".[314] At the 2025 Grammy Awards, SZA won Best R&B Song for her single "Saturn".[315]