Crowded House refute AI claims that Neil Finn has erectile dysfunction: “Don’t be fooled”
Crowded House were forced to post a somewhat awkward reassurance to fans after an AI-generated fake news report went viral on Facebook. The so-called report claimed that frontman Neil Finn suffered from erectile dysfunction.
TVNZ journalist Simon Dallow fronted the AI-generated news broadcast. The fake report claimed that Finn had fathered a child recently after eventually overcoming his struggle with erectile dysfunction.
Finn was even quoted in the fake story. The AI-generated Finn shared, “I never thought I’d be able to become a father again. Honestly, I believe that chapter of my life was closed, not because I didn’t want it, but because I simply couldn’t.”
The fake Finn also added, “For years, I lived with a problem most men are too ashamed to talk about. My erections became weaker and weaker until they stopped altogether. No desire, no confidence, no control. I was too embarrassed to even talk to my wife about it.”
It even included video imagery. One AI-generated clip included Māori doctor Lance O’Sullivan. Another showed Finn discussing how he had resolved the issue.
After much online speculation and discussion of the issue, Crowded House decided to publicly deny the AI claims. They wrote on Facebook, “We’re not sure where this came from, but please don’t be fooled. Neil’s never had trouble with erections.”
Though this story is humorous, and the band seemed to take it light-heatedly in their short, sweet response, AI is being subsumed into the music industry at an alarming rate. Another milestone for AI in the music industry was hit on July 24th, after Hallwood Media announced a record deal with Imoliver, who they describe as the most-streamed creator on the AI music generation platform Suno.
Meanwhile, industry titans such as Elton John, Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Paul McCartney have called out the UK government for their complicity in disappointing copyright laws. The group have demanded they do more to save creativity in light of the new threat from artificial art.
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