The advent of artificial intelligence has brought about a revolution in many industries, offering solutions and advancements that were once the stuff of science fiction. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and it seems that not all uses of AI are being met with applause. In fact, some applications are stirring up a storm of controversy, particularly in the realm of AI-generated videos featuring deceased celebrities.
Recently, a series of AI-generated videos that depict deceased celebrities being reunited with their living counterparts have sparked outrage across social media platforms. These videos, created by an AI educator named Min Choi using the ‘state-of-the-art AI assistant’ Grok-2, have been labeled as ‘ghoulish’ and ‘evil’ by many users.
Choi praised Grok-2 for its ability to generate photorealistic people, calling it ‘insane’ and ‘the best AI image model’ for this purpose. To showcase its capabilities, he posted a thread of short videos pairing celebrities such as Dolly Parton with Elvis Presley, Beyonce with Michael Jackson, and James Dean with Tom Cruise. While some of these pairings might seem harmless or even entertaining to some, others have crossed a line that many find deeply unsettling.
The backlash intensified with videos that hit too close to home for many viewers. One such video featured Paul McCartney alongside his late Beatles bandmate John Lennon, who was tragically murdered in 1980. But it was the AI renditions of Princes William and Harry with their late mother, Princess Diana, and Australian conservationist Steve Irwin with his now-adult daughter Bindi, that drew the most ire. These videos, which show the AI-generated pairs smiling and embracing, have been viewed millions of times, with the majority of reactions being negative.
The sentiment echoed across the internet is clear: just because technology allows us to do something, doesn’t mean we should. Social media users have expressed their disgust and horror, with comments ranging from calling the videos ‘extremely disrespectful and distasteful’ to ‘absolutely f**king ghoulish.’ The criticism highlights a growing concern over the ethical implications of using AI to manipulate images and videos of real people, especially those who have passed away and cannot consent to their likenesses being used.
This isn’t the first time AI-generated celebrity likenesses have caused a stir. Back in August, then-President-elect Donald Trump shared AI images that falsely showed Taylor Swift and her fans endorsing his presidential campaign. Swift was quick to denounce the fabricated endorsement, voicing her fears about AI and the potential for spreading misinformation.
What are your thoughts on using AI to recreate the likenesses of deceased celebrities? Where should we draw the ethical line when it comes to digital resurrection? Share your perspective in the comments below and join the conversation about this controversial use of AI.
Also read: Why a ‘digital afterlife’ is no longer science fiction
