Taylor Swift fans accuse singer of using AI in her Google scavenger hunt videos
For the release of her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” Taylor Swift sent fans on an online scavenger hunt this weekend, which started with searching “Taylor Swift” on Google. But when fans revealed secret videos as part of the campaign, some were concerned that the clips looked like they were generated from AI—and they weren’t happy.
A Google search of the singer’s name yields a cryptic message: “12 cities, 12 doors, one video to unlock.”
Fans had to figure out the location of the doors, then physically find them and scan a QR code, which appeared on 12 unique videos containing the clues needed to solve the puzzle. When they Googled the correct phrase, another orange door appeared, which fans had to collectively “knock on” by clicking 12 million times. Finally, the door “opens”, revealing a lyric video for “Ophelia’s Fate”, which has its own Orange Door progress bar on YouTube.
YouTube recorded the exclusive video for the track, as well as lyric videos from the remaining songs on the new album.
Google initially announced the scavenger hunt in an Instagram video. The video begins with an aerial view of Earth, then quickly zooms in on a jeweled scrolling scene, until we see an orange door, interspersed with a Google search bar.
While Swifties love a puzzle, some were rubbed the wrong way by the 12 clue videos, which appeared to be generated by AI.
Instead of searching for clues to the reveal of Swift’s new lyric video, as intended, some fans began searching the videos like detectives, looking for signs that the scenes were artificial. However, although there are clips that appear to be computer-generated, it is unclear whether they are made using artificial intelligence, and if so, to what extent.
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It would make sense if these videos were created using Google AI products. While Openai is showing off the new Sora 2 video rigs, this Taylor Swift collaboration will be a serendipitous opportunity for Google to show millions of Swifties what the Veo 3 model can do.
Google did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment on how these videos were created or if Swift and Google worked together on this activation using Google’s AI technology. But the Swift and Google teams have collaborated with similar promotional activities in the past, we should note.
The use of artificial intelligence in creative works is a sensitive topic. Some artists believe these tools can help them, while others have protested the way large language models are being trained on their work without consent, effectively making it easier for artists to create technology that could threaten their livelihoods.
Swift even spoke out about the dangers of AI after president Donald Trump shared an AI-generated photo of her lending her support to his campaign last year; The incident prompted her to post an endorsement for former Rep. Kamala Harris, who ran against Trump in 2024.
“I recently realized that the AI from ‘I’ is falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run on his site. It really brought up my concerns about AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It’s brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a hunter,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.
The controversy over Swift’s potential use of AI is amplified given her special standing in the music industry.
Although AI may appeal to some artists as a way to cut costs, the billionaire musician has every possible resource at her disposal to bring the imaginative scenes from her promotional videos to life.
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2025-10-06 20:50:00
