The year is 2025. Self-driving cars are (mostly) avoiding pedestrians, and we’re all arguing about the ethics of sentient toasters. But a new, slightly more terrifying problem has emerged: AI-generated Celine Dion.
Yes, you read that right. Team Dion recently released a statement cautioning fans about unauthorized, AI-generated music circulating online, falsely attributed to the legendary singer. Apparently, someone, somewhere, decided the world needed more Celine, even if Celine herself wasn’t involved. The result? A digital doppelganger belting out tunes that are, shall we say, ‘not approved.’
“It has come to our attention that unsanctioned, AI-generated music purporting to contain Celine Dion’s musical performances, and name and likeness, is currently circulating online and across various Digital Service Providers,” the statement read. Translation: Houston, we have a problem. A digital identity theft problem, to be precise.
For those not keeping score at home, Celine Dion has been battling stiff person syndrome, a neurological condition that makes singing somewhat… challenging. Her last album, “Courage,” dropped in 2019, followed by a tour derailed by the pandemic and her diagnosis. A documentary, I Am: Celine Dion, offered a raw look at her struggles. So, understandably, the idea of a rogue AI impersonating her probably isn’t at the top of her list of priorities.
The statement offered no details on the offending tracks, which leaves us to imagine the possibilities. Is it AI-Celine covering death metal? A techno remix of “My Heart Will Go On”? We shudder to think. What we do know is that, according to Team Dion, “these recordings are fake and not approved, and are not songs from her official discography.” In other words: buyer beware.
This incident raises some thorny questions about the future of music and AI. Who owns a voice? What are the ethical boundaries of creating AI-generated art based on existing artists? And, perhaps most importantly, is anything sacred anymore?
While the legal and philosophical battles rage on, one thing is clear: Celine Dion is not amused. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that you do not want to cross Celine Dion. Unless, of course, you are an AI. In that case, all bets are off. Prepare for a power ballad showdown for the ages. May the best (human or machine) voice win.
In the meantime, if you stumble across a ‘new’ Celine Dion track that sounds a bit… off, remember the warning. It’s probably not her. It’s probably just the robots, trying to steal our hearts one high note at a time.
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