Zelda Williams Condemns Shocking AI Attempt to Bring Late Dad Robin Williams Back
Zelda Williams passionately criticizes the unsettling practice of using AI technology to bring her beloved late father, Robin Williams, back to life, expressing her strong disapproval on her Instagram Story
Zelda Williams strongly criticizes the use of artificial intelligence to imitate her late father, Robin Williams. In an Instagram Story on October 1, the 34-year-old expressed her perspective, stating that she has firsthand knowledge of the desire to develop AI models that can replicate actors, including her father, who cannot provide consent. She emphasized that this issue is not hypothetical but a tangible reality.
She continued, "I've already heard of AI being used to manipulate someone's 'voice' in order to say whatever people want. While this personally disturbs me, the consequences extend far beyond my own feelings. It denies living actors the opportunity to bring characters to life through their choices, to lend their voices to cartoons, and to invest their own human effort and time into their performances."
The use of AI in the Hollywood industry has become a highly debated topic in recent times. In May, the Writer's Guild of America went on strike due to concerns regarding the use of AI for script creation, among other issues. Although the WGA strike concluded last week, the Screen Actors Guild strike persists, with performers seeking increased protections concerning the utilization of AI.
At their best, these recreations are a feeble imitation of remarkable individuals. At their worst, they are a dreadful amalgamation of the industry's darkest aspects rather than representing its true essence," Zelda concluded.
Robin, who suffered from anxiety, depression, and Parkinson's disease, tragically took his own life at the age of 62 in August 2014. The autopsy further revealed that he had also been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia.
Courtesy of Zelda Williams/Instagram
Survivors of the Dead Poets Society actor include his wife Susan Schneider, his son Zachary Williams, his daughter Zelda, and his son Cody Williams. Robin had Zak, 40, with his first wife, Valerie Velardi, and Zelda and Cody, 31, with his second wife, Marsha Garces.
In 2021, Zelda addressed her followers on X (previously known as Twitter), urging them to refrain from sharing videos of other comedians imitating her father.
"Hey guys, I wanted to address something because I feel like it won't cease unless I acknowledge it. I kindly request that you stop sending me the 'test footage,'" she expressed, alluding to a video featuring Jamie Costa portraying the renowned actor from Good Will Hunting.
Zelda, renowned for her work in acting, writing, directing, and producing, shared her experience of coping with her father's passing in a 2016 interview with Chelsea Handler on Netflix's Chelsea.
"It's interesting because for a period of time, it seemed like no one would let me do anything. It was like, 'Are you okay?' And even if I was, they would still ask, 'But what's wrong?' " she recalled during the conversation. "This left me to my own devices for some time, which actually led to a surge of creativity as I ended up writing 12 scripts. However, I did question if there was something wrong with me, and I found myself isolated for a while. But now, I'm actively seeking more time in the daylight!"
