Grimes Ushers in a New Era of Internet Infestation
Claire Boucher has always embodied the internet's complex nature, blending fascination and unease. Have you ever mistaken a mere shadow for a cockroach in your kitchen? A fleeting light catches your hand, casting a vague, sinister shape in an overlooked corner. Your instincts warn you: something malevolent has invaded your space. Yet a closer inspection reveals nothing amiss. The lingering anxiety remains, a subtle reminder of unseen threats.
Grimes’ video for “Artificial Angels” captures this unsettling sensation of internet-augmented reality in 2025. The endless sequence of establishing shots resembles those seen in generative AI demos. Grimes dances amid a shifting group of Grok’s virtual AI companions, while cavemen casually smoke cigarettes emblazoned with the OpenAI logo.
Erratic cartoon overlays create a sensory overload, mimicking the chaotic impact of videos made by obsessive viewers who thrive on information excess. The song opens and closes with a deliberately primitive AI voice stating,
“This is how it feels to be hunted by something smarter than you.”
The song and video evoke an immediate shock but quickly fade from memory—like spotting a dead animal on a morning walk, momentarily disturbing yet soon forgotten.
Author’s summary: Grimes’ “Artificial Angels” vividly portrays the eerie and overwhelming digital landscape, blending AI imagery with raw emotional unease.