Robin Williams' Daughter Condemns AI Recreations as 'Gross' and Distasteful

The rise of AI has sparked a debate about its ethical boundaries, especially concerning the likeness of deceased individuals. Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams, has recently voiced her strong disapproval of AI-generated videos recreating her father. Zelda's Plea to Fans Zelda Williams, director and daughter of the beloved comedian, has asked the public to stop sending her AI-generated videos of Robin Williams. She expressed her distress on Instagram, stating that these recreations are unwanted and disturbing. "Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad," she wrote, emphasizing her aversion to them. The Impact of AI Recreations She further criticized the practice of reducing real people's legacies to shallow imitations for entertainment. According to Williams, these AI creations are not art but rather a distasteful manipulation of human lives. She believes such acts disrespect the history of art and music, turning them into something repulsive. A Broader Commentary on AI Williams also challenged the notion of AI as "the future," describing it as a tool that merely recycles the past. She likened it to a "Human Centipede of content," where originality is lost in endless re-consumption. This isn't the first time Zelda has spoken out against AI recreations of her father. Past Concerns About AI Use In 2023, during the SAG-AFTRA strike, Zelda highlighted the issue of AI recreations as a critical point of contention. She expressed concern over the use of AI to recreate actors without their consent. She finds it personally disturbing that AI could be used to mimic her father's voice and likeness, stressing the broader implications for living actors and the industry as a whole. Protecting Actors' Rights Zelda believes living actors deserve the opportunity to create characters through their own efforts and choices. She views AI recreations as poor imitations that undermine the value of human performance. She sees the AI versions as potentially harmful creations cobbled together from the worst aspects of the entertainment industry.