Legal battle erupts over AI-generated George Carlin comedy special

Image: YouTube / George Carlin

George Carlin's estate has filed a lawsuit against the producers of a one-hour comedy special featuring an AI-generated version of the late comedian, according to NBC News. Carlin's estate, including daughter Kelly Carlin, alleges that the online media platform Dudesy violated the performer's right to publicity and infringed upon copyright. 

The video is titled "George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead," and features an hour of new "material" from the comedian who died in 2008. Despite its name and premise, the AI replication falls short of expectations. Limited to audio, the imitation lacks the distinct voice and comedic brilliance associated with Carlin. It essentially amounts to a subpar impersonation, featuring predictable punchlines and an absence of the comedian's trademark wordplay and righteous fury.

Kelly Carlin expressed her dissatisfaction in a statement, emphasizing that the AI rendition is a "poorly-executed facsimile" created by "unscrupulous individuals." Attorney Josh Schiller, representing the estate, cautioned against AI's misuse as a tool enabling bad-faith actors to exploit creative expression and profit at the expense of creators.

Dudesy, the channel responsible for the controversial video, is managed by comedian Will Sasso and author Chad Kultgen. Although they didn't write the material, they are implicated in the lawsuit. The AI utilized for the project was reportedly trained on extensive Carlin routines. Sasso and Kultgen argue that the AI-created Carlin should be viewed as akin to an impressionist impersonating a public figure.

Sasso, addressing the controversy in a recent podcast, insisted that the AI version is not a substitute for the genuine article. The lawsuit characterizes the video as "computer-generated click-bait" diminishing the value of Carlin's comedic legacy and tarnishing his reputation.

The legal complaint seeks unspecified damages and demands immediate removal of all copies of the hour-long special. This case adds to the ongoing tension between AI algorithms and human creators, echoing concerns raised during the Hollywood writers’ strike and recent incidents involving AI-generated celebrities. 

As technology advances, these conflicts are likely to intensify, with potential ramifications extending to the political sphere, as illustrated by an AI replication of President Biden’s voice used to manipulate public discourse in a recent election.

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