Netflix’s latest true-crime docuseries, American Murder: Gabby Petito, has captivated viewers with its chilling recounting of the tragic events surrounding the 2021 murder of 22-year-old Gabby Petito. The three-part series delves into the months leading up to her death, offering an intimate portrayal of Petito’s life through interviews, social media posts, and video footage. However, one aspect of the series has sparked heated discussions and raised ethical concerns: the use of AI to recreate Gabby Petito’s voice, narrating excerpts from her personal writings. The controversy centers around the question of whether it is ethical—or even respectful—to use artificial intelligence to mimic the voices of people who have passed away.
The Controversy of AI Voice Recreation
At the start of the docuseries, Netflix provides a disclaimer: “Gabby’s journal entries and text messages are brought to life in this series in her own voice, using voice recreation technology.” This means that the voice narrating Gabby Petito’s personal writings and journal entries is not actually her voice, but a synthetic voice generated by an AI model. While the filmmakers received permission from Petito’s family to employ this technology, many viewers have expressed discomfort with the concept, raising questions about the ethics of using AI to recreate the voices of the deceased.
For some, the synthetic voice feels unsettling. As one of the most significant aspects of a person’s identity is their voice, the use of AI to replicate it may seem like an invasion of privacy or a misstep in the portrayal of the victim’s life and legacy. Social media creators and critics have flocked to platforms like Twitter and YouTube to discuss the eeriness of the AI-generated voice, gaining hundreds of thousands of views in the process.
The debate about AI recreations is not a new one. As technology advances, more creators, filmmakers, and even companies are grappling with the ethical boundaries of using AI to mimic voices, images, and likenesses of individuals—both alive and deceased.
How AI Was Used to Recreate Gabby Petito’s Voice
The filmmakers behind American Murder: Gabby Petito turned to advanced voice recreation technology to bring Gabby’s journal entries and text messages to life. This AI model, trained on recordings of Petito’s real voice, allowed the filmmakers to generate an audio version of her written words. The process involves feeding existing samples of a person’s voice into an AI system, which then learns to mimic the tone, pitch, and cadence of that voice.
For a true-crime docuseries, the inclusion of the victim’s voice—particularly in personal moments like diary entries and messages—adds an emotional weight that could bring the tragedy closer to viewers. In American Murder, the creators sought to bring Gabby’s own words to life as a way to humanize her, letting her share her story in a deeply personal way. The AI-generated voice allowed them to do this in a manner that felt authentic while also ensuring that Petito’s real voice, if available, was respected in the process.
However, this raises the critical question of whether it is ethical to manipulate a deceased person’s voice, even with the consent of their family. The act of recreating someone’s voice brings with it the risk of misinterpretation, misrepresentation, or even exploitation, particularly when the voice is used for entertainment or commercial purposes. Even with permission, many argue that using a deceased person’s voice in this way could compromise the authenticity and dignity of the person’s memory.
The Ethical Dilemma of Using AI to Mimic the Voices of the Deceased
The use of AI to recreate the voices of deceased individuals raises significant ethical concerns that go beyond the realm of filmmaking. Here are some of the key ethical dilemmas that have emerged from this practice:
1. Informed Consent and Family Permission
Although Netflix claims that Petito’s family gave their consent to use AI to recreate her voice, this doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the use of her voice was entirely ethical. Informed consent requires that all involved parties fully understand the potential implications of the decision. Given the highly emotional nature of Petito’s death and the immense public interest in the case, one could argue that the family may have faced pressure to approve the use of AI voice technology, or that they may not have fully anticipated the public backlash or discomfort that would follow.
2. The Right to Digital Afterlife
As AI technology advances, society is increasingly confronted with questions about the rights of individuals after their death. The concept of a “digital afterlife” raises the question of whether people have the right to control the use of their voices, images, and likenesses even after they pass away. AI-generated voices are becoming more sophisticated, making it increasingly easy for companies to manipulate a person’s digital legacy. Without clear legal frameworks, it is unclear who owns the rights to an individual’s voice after their death, or whether their voice can be used without exploitation.
3. Exploitation of Tragedy
Another concern with using AI to recreate the voices of deceased individuals, particularly in true-crime media, is the potential exploitation of tragedy for entertainment purposes. While true-crime stories often serve to raise awareness and seek justice, there is a fine line between honoring the memory of the deceased and sensationalizing their suffering. In the case of American Murder: Gabby Petito, the use of AI to narrate Petito’s writings could be seen as commodifying her memory for commercial gain, particularly when viewers feel uncomfortable with the use of synthetic voices.
4. Emotional Impact on Viewers
For some viewers, the use of AI to recreate Gabby Petito’s voice was simply too much to bear. Hearing a synthetic version of a deceased person’s voice can evoke a range of emotions, from unease to sadness, as it forces viewers to confront the reality of how technology is reshaping the way we interact with the past. The emotional connection that people have to Petito’s story may make them feel as though her voice should be left undisturbed, rather than reimagined by AI for the sake of storytelling.
The Role of AI in Modern Storytelling
While the use of AI in mimicking voices is controversial, it is also an example of how emerging technologies are reshaping modern storytelling. AI’s ability to replicate voices, likenesses, and even personalities is being used across various industries, from film and television to advertising and gaming. As AI technology becomes more advanced, it has the potential to change how stories are told and experienced, allowing creators to produce content that is more immersive and emotionally engaging.
However, as AI’s capabilities expand, so too must the conversation about ethics, consent, and responsibility. The creators of American Murder: Gabby Petito and others in the industry must consider the emotional and moral implications of using AI in their projects, particularly when dealing with sensitive subjects such as real-life tragedy and death. Striking a balance between innovation and respect for the deceased is essential to ensuring that AI remains a tool for meaningful storytelling, rather than exploitation.
Conclusion: The Future of AI in Storytelling
The use of AI to recreate voices in American Murder: Gabby Petito has stirred a larger debate about the ethical implications of mimicking the voices of the deceased. While AI-generated voices can add emotional depth and realism to true-crime documentaries, the practice also raises significant concerns regarding consent, digital legacy, and the potential for exploitation.
As AI technology continues to evolve, society will have to grapple with these ethical dilemmas and create guidelines for how such technologies should be used in the future. Until then, it is important for creators to proceed with caution, ensuring that the voices of the deceased are used respectfully and with full consideration of the emotional impact on both the family and the viewers.
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