Photo: Yuichiro Chino / Moment / Getty Images
In a groundbreaking use of technology, Stacey Wales used artificial intelligence to create a video of her deceased brother, Christopher Pelkey, to deliver a victim impact statement during the sentencing of his killer in Arizona. Pelkey was killed in a road rage incident in Chandler, Arizona, in 2021.
Wales, struggling to find the right words for the sentencing hearing, decided to let Pelkey "speak" through an AI-generated video. The video, shown on May 1, featured a digital recreation of Pelkey, complete with his voice and likeness, expressing forgiveness to his killer, Gabriel Paul Horcasitas. "In another life, we probably could have been friends," the AI version of Pelkey said, according to CNN.
The AI video was created by Wales and her husband, who have experience in tech, using photos and an old video of Pelkey. Despite its somewhat awkward appearance, the video resonated with the court. Judge Todd Lang of Maricopa County Superior Court praised the video and sentenced Horcasitas to 10.5 years for manslaughter, exceeding the state's request of 9.5 years.
The use of AI in this context is believed to be a first in the U.S. and raises questions about the ethical implications of using AI to replicate deceased individuals in court. Despite the novelty and potential controversy, the video was well-received and provided Wales's family with a sense of closure. As AI continues to advance, its role in legal settings will likely grow, prompting ongoing discussions about its appropriate use.