The agency behind MADEIN – previously known as Limelight – is under fire for using AI to create parts of the K-pop girl group’s new music video for ‘Uno’.

MADEIN made their official debut yesterday (September 3) with the single ‘Uno’. The seven-piece’s debut was highly anticipated, after the group was rebranded from Limelight with the addition of two former Kep1er members, Yeseo and Mashiro, to its line-up.

Upon its release, fans and viewers were quick to point out what seems to be heavy use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the making of the video. Fans noted that the music video contained more AI-generated footage rather than actual filmed footage.

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The use of AI-generated scenes in MADEIN’s debut music video has resulted in backlash from fans against 143 Entertainment, with some saying that they “didn’t expect MADEIN’s debut to be this cheap to the point of using AI”. Others have described the music video as having “no soul” and called it “disrespectful” to the band.

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

I didn’t expect madein’s debut to be this cheap to the point that they had to use AI.. and what’s crazy is that the AI is so obvious, they didn’t even try to hide it like LOOK AT THESE??? https://t.co/Yg8Lg8skfE pic.twitter.com/rUss8ijNut

— xue (@xuelaces) September 3, 2024

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

Since the public outcry against 143 Entertainment about its use of AI on the music video, the company’s CEO Park Jun-sang had taken to his personal Instagram page to issue a formal apology to fans about the music video’s production.

“My bad, it’s all my fault,” he wrote in English on an Instagram Story. “Apology to the fans and the members. I’ll make sure the new edit will release in a few days without any VFX. Please stay tuned for more.”

Park also added in the same post that a performance video for B-side track ‘DADARIDA’ will be released “soon”, although did not provide a specific dates for either video.

Mashiro and Yeseo were the only members of Kep1er who opted not to extend their contracts with the girl group, and officially left after their contracts expired at the start of July. The remaining members will continue as a seven-member group, though agency WAKEONE did not specify the length of their contract extension.