Venue Cancels Concert Due to AI Mishap Involving Ashley McIsaac

A concert in Canada featuring fiddle player Ashley McIsaac was called off after an AI error from Google wrongly labeled her as a sex offender. This incident has led to potential legal action.

McIsaac, who blends Celtic music with contemporary styles, was set to perform at the Sipekne’katik First Nation in Nova Scotia on December 19 of last year. However, the venue pulled the plug on the show due to misinformation sourced from Google’s AI.

McIsaac stated that the AI summary had mistakenly identified him, and the venue received confirmation of this mislabeling from online sources. “You’re being put in a less safe situation because of the media companies, and that’s defamation,” he remarked. “If a lawyer wants to take on this case for free, I’ll stand up because I’m not the first and I’m sure I won’t be the last,” he added.

The musician, 50, observed that the compilation provided by the AI included details about another Canadian man who shares his name. The venue later issued an apology for the error, emphasizing the need for “reconciliation.” They expressed deep regret over the fallout from this incident, acknowledging the impact on reputations and livelihoods.

According to McIsaac, he is considering pursuing a defamation lawsuit against Google if he can find a pro bono lawyer. “This is a very scary situation. If I had gone to the border, I would probably still be in jail,” he reflected. He has long been in the public eye, facing past scrutiny over issues like marijuana use and his sexual orientation, but insisted that being wrongly accused of a serious crime is entirely unfounded.

A Google spokesperson commented that the search function, including AI features, is constantly evolving. They mentioned that when inaccuracies arise—such as misinterpretations or misunderstandings of content—they take those instances to enhance their systems and may act in accordance with their policies.