AI Helps A Victim Speak From The Grave

By now, everyone’s heard of the frightening dangers of artificial intelligence. But recently, one family decided to turn the tables and use it to offer their loved one's victim impact statement. It was likely the first time a courtroom had witnessed such a video.

Christopher Pelkey of Maricopa County, Arizona, was brutally killed in a 2021 road rage shooting. At the sentencing of his killer, Christopher’s family showed an AI-generated video of him, letting his likeness and voice speak directly to the court, and offer forgiveness to the man who took his life.

The judge, who was deeply moved, normally refers to victims by their last names, but in this case, he said, “I feel like I can call him Christopher because we’ve gotten to know him today.”

The positive uses of AI likely go far beyond what has yet been imagined, but this family gave us a glimpse into what’s possible by demonstrating how it can also be used to inspire and forgive others from the grave.

Watch the video here on NPR