Highly Anticipated Girl Group Debut Sparks Outrage Due To Heavy Use Of AI 

The highly anticipated debut of MADEIN — a new seven-member girl group under 143 Entertainment — has quickly become controversial due to the use of generative AI in their debut music video.

| 143 Entertainment 

Fans were eagerly looking forward to the release of their first EP Sangseung (상승), especially because two of the members — Mashiro and Yeseo — are former members of the popular group Kep1er.

| @official_kep1er/X (formerly known as Twitter)

Their decision not to renew their contracts with WAKEONE and to join MADEIN had significantly raised expectations for the group’s debut.

Former Kep1er Members Yeseo And Mashiro Will Re-Debut In New Girl Group MADEIN

However, excitement turned to disappointment shortly after the release of the music video for their title track, “UNO.” Viewers quickly noticed that several scenes in the video featured AI-generated images of the members in various settings rather than actual filmed footage.

a compilation of AI scenes used in madein uno MV. i wasnt sure about flowers blooms because those could be just stock videos but i put it in anyway :/ pic.twitter.com/TqAMC45Zwt

— chæda apologist FUKO DEBUT (@fukop1ian) September 3, 2024

This creative decision sparked outrage among fans, who felt that it not only diminished the quality of the production but also disrespected the members themselves by replacing them with “lifeless,” computer-generated versions.

it’s not just the ai i’m upset at, it’s the erasure of the MADEIN members — those are NOT the girls, those are ai generated images that have no soul. it’s disrespectful to literally everyone

— coni ¹ ✧ KEP1ER SHOOTING STAR OUT NOW (@shirosflower) September 3, 2024

Fans expressed their frustration on social media, criticizing 143 Entertainment for opting to use AI instead of traditional CGI or other visual effects. Many argued that the use of AI imagery took away the personal connection that K-Pop groups are known for and undermined the hard work and authenticity that fans expect from their idols.

made us wait 2 more hours for the mv just to be made using ai instead of actual cgi artists… fuck you @GTMNY143 this is so disappointing that you would do this to madein’s debut pic.twitter.com/PyJOR3q2e9

— maddie (@chae1vly) September 3, 2024

the madein video… those girls are working their asses off but the company wants to cut corners with ai?? what happened to the limelight production value?? does 143 seriously think that adding yeshiro means they don’t need to put in effort anymore??

— yaz 🧸 (@byu11lie) September 3, 2024

The backlash was so severe that fans initiated a boycott, demanding that the company remove the AI-generated scenes and release a new version of the music video.

We DEMAND @GTMNY143 @MADEIN_U to delete the ‘UNO’ MV and release a version entirely without AI. As fans, we feel extremely disappointed to see the MV full of AI images and sequences. We won’t stream the video unless @GTMNY143 takes action into it and deletes ALL AI scenes.

— 🌟🏹⚡️📞 (@passiontopia) September 3, 2024

uno by madein mv second chorus without the ugly generative ai pic.twitter.com/QAK13DRt3a

— 📁 (@fusesodas) September 3, 2024

While the use of AI in K-Pop music videos and promotional content is not entirely new, it remains a sensitive issue.

The charm of K-Pop lies in its high production values and the personal connection between idols and their fans. For many, the inclusion of AI disrupts that connection and raises concerns about the potential for stolen or unoriginal artwork.

Fans Disturbed By SM Entertainment’s “Obsession” With AI Use In Music Videos

As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how 143 Entertainment will respond to the growing demands of MADEIN’s fanbase.