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highplainsdem

(60,812 posts)
Sun Dec 28, 2025, 11:17 AM Dec 28

Musician Cancelled as AI Falsely Accuses Him of Horrific Crimes

https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/musician-ai-canada-google

Who needs vicious music columnists when you live in the age of AI?

Apparently not Ashley MacIsaac, a Canadian fiddler, singer, and songwriter who was labeled a sex criminal by Google’s AI overview.

-snip-

The paper reports that the misinformation was the result of one of Google’s AI summaries — brief summations it helpfully plasters above all other search results — which blended the musician’s biography with another person who bears the same name.

-snip-

Though the AI overview has since been updated, MacIsaac explained that the situation presents a huge dilemma for him as a touring musician. For one thing, there’s no telling how many other event organizers passed on hiring him because of the libelous claim, or how many potential audience members got the wrong impression, but not the correction.

-snip-


Google's response was to say that search including AI Overviews is "dynamic and frequently changing" but "when issues arise...we use those examples to improve our systems."

If that doesn't sound like an apology to you, that's because it isn't. If "issues arise" where Google's AI Overview libels someone, the victim will just have to find some comfort in being an example to improve Google's systems. Just don't expect Google to really improve. But you can expect them to keep counting on their fine print about AI making mistakes to protect them from lawsuits, all the while they continue to mangle reality and fill the internet with misinformation as they race to have the one AI that rules them all.
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Musician Cancelled as AI Falsely Accuses Him of Horrific Crimes (Original Post) highplainsdem Dec 28 OP
I Wish I were an Attorney dickthegrouch Dec 28 #1
We're getting into Black Mirror territory. LudwigPastorius Dec 28 #2
Very, very scary times we live in. a kennedy Dec 28 #4
He's a wonderful fiddler -- what an outrage mainer Dec 28 #3
Fine then. sakabatou Dec 28 #5

dickthegrouch

(4,392 posts)
1. I Wish I were an Attorney
Sun Dec 28, 2025, 12:34 PM
Dec 28

That's a Libel case I'd take on contingency!
The AI company's announcements and 90-page "agreements" mean nothing to someone who hasn't signed up for the service (hint).

LudwigPastorius

(14,379 posts)
2. We're getting into Black Mirror territory.
Sun Dec 28, 2025, 02:19 PM
Dec 28

...where it is possible that someone with access to these algorithms can destroy your life with a single click.

sakabatou

(45,931 posts)
5. Fine then.
Sun Dec 28, 2025, 02:51 PM
Dec 28

All that needs to be done is completely destroy Googles AI infrastructure, and then... well, I can't say it here on DU.

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