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.
It was a classic TV moment. Michael Parkinson was interviewing the comedian Rod Hull, who arrived with his glove puppet Emu. But as they talked, Emu seemed to take on a life of his own - and to take a dislike to his host. To the hilarity of the studio audience, it ended with the puppet wrestling Parkinson to the floor.
The chat show Parkinson ran on and off for 20 years. By the end of it, the down-to-earth Yorkshireman had interviewed many of the most famous people in the world. They included actors such as Orson WellesAmerican director, actor, writer and producer (1915-1985). The panic caused by The War of the Worlds made him internationally famous. His first film, Citizen Kane, came out in 1941. and Daniel Craig, singers such as John LennonAn English singer-songwriter and member of the world-renowned 1960s band The Beatles. He was assassinated in 1980 in New York. and MadonnaOne of the tiles for Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Christianity. Also the name of an American singer known as the "Queen of Pop". , sports stars such as Muhammad AliAn American professional boxer and activist known as "the greatest". and politicians such as Tony BlairTony Blair was the leader of the Labour party. He was British prime minister from 1997 to 2007. .
When Sir Michael died last year aged 88, everyone assumed that the interviews were over. But his son Mike had other ideas.
Mike set up a YouTube channel devoted to his father's old interviews. Then he met two AIA computer programme that has been designed to think. experts, Ben Field and Jamie Anderson, who ran a company called Deep Fusion. "They suggested doing something really bold instead: 'Why don't we let him interview the next generation of talents that he would have been fascinated by?'"1
Some weeks later Mike received a voice message created by Deep Fusion. It sounded just like his father.
Deep Fusion has now made an eight-part podcast called Virtually Parkinson. On it real people are interviewed as if by Sir Michael. "It's exactly how he delivered his questions," says Mike. "Even the pacing is the same. It stills people when they hear it."
But it is not just that the questions sound as if they are coming from Sir Michael: they appear to be thought up by him too. Jamie Anderson explains that the programmers never dictate what is said: "That it is up to AI Sir Michael, who is trained on Sir Michael's style and the interview questions."2
Mike insists that his father would have approved of the project: "It's a wonderful way of extending the life of someone who was an outlier and a unique talent of his generation."
This is not the only example of people offering artificial contact with the dead. A recent documentary called Eternal You sheds disconcerting light on the subject.
A Chinese company called Shanghai Fushouyan creates avatars to be beamed onto TV screens at funerals. They mimic a person's appearance and voice and are programmed to talk about their memories.
The 2020 South Korean documentary Meeting You showed a mother being reunited with her dead seven-year-old daughter through VRVirtual reality. A simulation of a 3D environment. It can be interacted with in a way that feels real. technology. The Guardian described it as "both moving and manipulative".
On a more basic level, people have used ChatGPTAn Artificial Intelligence chatbot released in November 2022. to have "conversations" with their deceased loved ones. Sunshine Henle gave it text messages she had exchanged with her mother and asked it to reply in her mother's style and voice. She says the result was better than going to a therapist: "I felt like it was taking the best parts of my mom and the best parts of psychology and fusing those things together."3
Is this a step too far with AI?
Yes: The dead should be allowed to rest in peace. Sir Michael is being turned into a commercial gimmickA publicity stunt to attract attention., and the series is just as likely to damage his reputation as it is to keep it alive.
No: It is no different from actors playing dead people and bringing them back to life on screen or stage. This kind of technology can be a great consolation to people who have lost loved ones.
Or... People have always wanted to contact the dead and this is infinitely preferable to a ouija boardA flat board marked with letters, numbers and words which was once a popular way to "communicate" with the dead during seances. . The great poet WB Yeats wrote some amazing poetry which he believed was inspired by spirits.
Orson Welles - American director, actor, writer and producer (1915-1985). The panic caused by The War of the Worlds made him internationally famous. His first film, Citizen Kane, came out in 1941.
John Lennon - An English singer-songwriter and member of the world-renowned 1960s band The Beatles. He was assassinated in 1980 in New York.
Madonna - One of the tiles for Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Christianity. Also the name of an American singer known as the "Queen of Pop".
Muhammad Ali - An American professional boxer and activist known as "the greatest".
Tony Blair - Tony Blair was the leader of the Labour party. He was British prime minister from 1997 to 2007.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
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.
Gimmick - A publicity stunt to attract attention.
Ouija board - A flat board marked with letters, numbers and words which was once a popular way to "communicate" with the dead during seances.
Dead TV star ‘interviews’ new guests

Glossary
Orson Welles - American director, actor, writer and producer (1915-1985). The panic caused by The War of the Worlds made him internationally famous. His first film, Citizen Kane, came out in 1941.
John Lennon - An English singer-songwriter and member of the world-renowned 1960s band The Beatles. He was assassinated in 1980 in New York.
Madonna - One of the tiles for Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Christianity. Also the name of an American singer known as the "Queen of Pop".
Muhammad Ali - An American professional boxer and activist known as "the greatest".
Tony Blair - Tony Blair was the leader of the Labour party. He was British prime minister from 1997 to 2007.
AI - A computer programme that has been designed to think.
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.
Gimmick - A publicity stunt to attract attention.
Ouija board - A flat board marked with letters, numbers and words which was once a popular way to "communicate" with the dead during seances.