Canadian icon Céline Dion is joining her fellow musicians in speaking out against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create counterfeit music tracks and videos that infringe upon artists’ copyright.
Dion’s representatives cautioned the French-Canadian singer’s fans in a recent social media post about the AI-generated music circulating online that imitates her voice.
“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 Instagram post reads. “Please be advised that these recordings are fake and not approved, and are not songs from her official discography.”
A number of AI-generated recordings have surfaced on YouTube, claiming to be from the 56-year-old singer. One of them, a cover of gospel song “Heal Me Lord,” has garnered one million views since its release on the platform four months ago.
While some commenters seemed convinced Dion was indeed singing the song, others called out the use of AI.
Fake versions of Dion’s voice have also been used for a number of duets posted online, including one of “See You Again” with Charlie Puth.
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The five-time Grammy winner, from Charlemagne, Que., hadn’t performed in public since she revealed in December 2022 her diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, a rare and incurable autoimmune neurological disorder that causes muscle spasms and stiffness. She made an exception with one appearance last July when she sang “Hymne à l’amour” from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to end the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Dion is one of numerous Canadian performers whose voices have been used for AI-generated covers without the artist’s consent. Alanis Morissette, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, The Weeknd, and Drake are just a few of the other Canadian singers who have had fake songs posted online.
The Artist Rights Alliance published an open letter last year urging AI tech companies, developers, platforms, and digital music services to cease the use of artificial intelligence to “infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.”
“This assault on human creativity must be stopped,” said the letter from the non-profit advocacy organization, which was signed by more than 200 musical artists, including Canadian jazz musician Diana Krall.
“We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists’ voices and likenesses, violate creators’ rights, and destroy the music ecosystem.”
Other signatories included Aerosmith, Billie Eilish, Jon Bon Jovi, Kate Hudson, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, and Stevie Wonder.
