Is this a step too far with AI? Sir Michael Parkinson was Britain’s top chat-show host. Now new technology has been used to re-create his voice and interviewing style.
Dead TV star 'interviews' new guests
Is this a step too far with AI? Sir Michael Parkinson was Britain's top chat-show host. Now new technology has been used to re-create his voice and interviewing style.
Michael Parkinson was a famous TV host in the UK. He interviewed everyone from Tony BlairTony Blair was the leader of the Labour party. He was British prime minister from 1997 to 2007. to Muhammad AliAn American professional boxer and activist known as "the greatest". .
He died in 2023. But - it turns out - this was not the end of his interviews.
Now his son Mike has worked with two artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence, or "AI," is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning. experts to create a new AI version of his father.
The two experts were Ben Field and Jamie Anderson.
"They suggested doing something really bold," Mike remembers. They said: "Why don't we let him interview the next generationA big group of people who were all born at the same time. of talent?",
They have now made a podcast called Virtually Parkinson. On it real people are interviewed as if by Sir Michael.
The voice sounds just like Sir Michael. But the questions also seem to be thought up by him.
In fact they are produced by AI which has been trained on his style and interview questions.
Mike insists that his father would have approvedAgreed to. of the project: "It's a wonderful way of extending the life of someone who was a unique talent of his generation."
This is not the only example of people offering tech contact with the dead. The 2020 South Korean documentaryA film with a factual narrative. One of the most famous documentaries of modern times is An Inconvenient Truth, about climate change. Meeting You showed a mother being reunited with her dead daughter through VRVirtual reality. A simulation of a 3D environment. It can be interacted with in a way that feels real. technology.
On a more basic level, people have used ChatGPTAn Artificial Intelligence chatbot released in November 2022. to have "conversations" with their dead loved ones. Some now call them "griefbots".
Is this a step too far with AI?
Yes! The dead should be allowed to rest in peace. It is unethicalNot morally right. to use AI to make money from dead people. And "griefbots" could end up harming grievingMourning, or feeling sad about the death of someone you cared for. relatives, not helping them.
No! It is no different from actors playing dead people and bringing them back to life in films. "Griefbots" can also help people who are struggling after a loved one has died.
Tony Blair - Tony Blair was the leader of the Labour party. He was British prime minister from 1997 to 2007.
Muhammad Ali - An American professional boxer and activist known as "the greatest".
Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence, or "AI," is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning.
Generation - A big group of people who were all born at the same time.
Approved - Agreed to.
Documentary - A film with a factual narrative. One of the most famous documentaries of modern times is An Inconvenient Truth, about climate change.
VR - Virtual reality. A simulation of a 3D environment. It can be interacted with in a way that feels real.
ChatGPT - An Artificial Intelligence chatbot released in November 2022.
Unethical - Not morally right.
Grieving - Mourning, or feeling sad about the death of someone you cared for.
Dead TV star ‘interviews’ new guests

Glossary
Tony Blair - Tony Blair was the leader of the Labour party. He was British prime minister from 1997 to 2007.
Muhammad Ali - An American professional boxer and activist known as "the greatest".
Artificial Intelligence - Artificial intelligence, or “AI,” is the ability for a computer to think and learn. With AI, computers can perform tasks that are typically done by people, including processing language, problem-solving, and learning.
Generation - A big group of people who were all born at the same time.
Approved - Agreed to.
Documentary - A film with a factual narrative. One of the most famous documentaries of modern times is An Inconvenient Truth, about climate change.
VR - Virtual reality. A simulation of a 3D environment. It can be interacted with in a way that feels real.
ChatGPT - An Artificial Intelligence chatbot released in November 2022.
Unethical - Not morally right.
Grieving - Mourning, or feeling sad about the death of someone you cared for.