Artificial Intelligence is allowing fans to see and hear deceased celebrities again via digitally recreated voices, faces and performances.
However, these recreations have raised some concerns among families and fans about consent and respect for the dead.
1. Robin Williams
The Good Will Hunting star’s daughter, Zelda Williams, publicly criticised AI-generated videos of her late father, asking people to stop sending her such content.
Her response underscored the emotional impact of recreating a loved one via AI without meaningful consent.
2. Michael Jackson
The legendary pop star continues to appear in AI-generated videos that imitate his voice, appearance and the highly-famous dance moves.
Although some creations are intended as tributes, others use his likeness in fictional scenarios, raising questions about how his legacy should be represented.
A few months earlier, a video surfacing on social media garnered tremendous attraction, showing the pop king on a Brazilian bus.
3. Elvis Presley
The Burning Love star’s iconic image and voice have inspired AI-generated performances and digital recreations.
The cutting-edge technology provides several ways for fans to revisit his music; however, it also blurs the line between authentic archival material and computer-generated performances.
4. Amy Winehouse
AI-generated content featuring Amy Winehouse has circulated online, recreating aspects of the singer’s appearance and voice.
Such recreations have triggered wider discussions about whether technology should reproduce the identities of artists who can no longer approve how their likenesses are used.
5. Judy Garland
Judy Garland’s voice was among those licensed for AI use by ElevenLabs in a reading application launched in 2024.
The project underscored how a deceased celebrity’s voice can be recreated for a commercial product with estate involvement, offering a different approach from unauthorised online imitations.
