Lorde has publicly criticized Spotify’s AI-driven “About the Song” feature, which automatically generates summaries for tracks, calling for greater artist autonomy. In an Instagram story on July 16, the singer expressed frustration with the feature’s mischaracterization of her song “Current Affairs,” which is part of her 2025 Ultrasound World Tour. The AI-generated description erroneously linked the track to a live performance scene involving nudity and water pouring—a sequence actually from her song “GRWM.”
“This is not only factually incorrect but also reduces a song to an AI-generated interpretation at its source, limiting artistic freedom,” Lorde wrote. “At least allow artists to opt out.”
Spotify introduced the beta feature in February, claiming it aims to “explore the meaning behind the music” using third-party data sets. The move underscores the platform’s ongoing efforts to integrate AI tools, despite concerns over accuracy and artist rights. This comes amid broader industry scrutiny of AI’s role in music, including Spotify’s recent removal of 75 million AI-generated tracks over the past year, the company reported.
Lorde’s critique aligns with her longstanding skepticism toward AI’s expanding presence in society. During her performance at Madrid’s Mad Cool Festival on July 9, she warned attendees about the risks of AI-powered technologies, specifically targeting Meta’s AI glasses. “It’s becoming harder to distinguish reality from artificiality,” she said. “Don’t get the glasses—they’re not worth it.”
