BLACKPINK has finally made their much-awaited comeback with DEADLINE, but their new release has been hit with major criticism online.

On February 27, KST, the group released their new mini album, along with a music video for “GO.”

While initially the music video received an enthusiastic reception, once some fans noticed the credits, things changed. As it turns out, the VFX used in the music video was heavily AI-generated, with over eleven names credited under “AI VFX” and “AI Production.”

This discovery immediately soured public opinion about the BLACKPINK release. For fans, it was even more shocking given how the group used to take pride in filming their earlier music videos in elaborate real-life sets that looked like CGI.

While the usage of generative AI is starting to become increasingly normalized in creative industries, many artists and end-users are still pushing against it due to its environmental wreckage and ethical considerations. Given that a significant portion of K-Pop fans fall under this category, these reactions to BLACKPINK’s music video are not completely unexpected.

Meanwhile, the group’s new album has faced further criticism over other issues as well.