AI may have been a right step towards the future, but sometimes, things get out of hand; just listen to what Robin Williams‘ daughter, Zelda Williams, has to say about it.
Recently, Zelda took to her Instagram stories to bash anyone who has been sending her AI-generated videos of her father against her wishes. While some may not have ill intentions, Zelda called it “dumb” and a “waste of time and energy“, warning users that she’ll simply restrict them from her profile and move on.
She stated (via BBC),
Please, just stop sending me AI videos of dad. Stop believing I wanna see it or that I’ll understand, I don’t and I won’t. If you’re just trying to troll me, I’ve seen way worse, I’ll restrict and move on…But please, if you’ve got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even, full stop. It’s dumb, it’s a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it’s NOT what he’d want.
Zelda went on to add how AI is reducing the legacies of real people for a few likes. She concluded her rant by comparing it all to The Human Centipede. Read her entire statement below:
Zelda Williams should be allowed to shoot people pic.twitter.com/i77301SzlX
Undoubtedly, AI can be helpful to an extent, but if it’s being used to hurt the sentiments of real-life people, then we must ask ourselves where we went so wrong.
Support Pours in for Robin Williams’ Daughter, Zelda
After Zelda Williams expressed her disdain toward AI, especially the AI-generated videos of her father, netizens’ response to her words makes it seem like we may be living in a dystopian fantasy.
Despite everything Zelda said, a user proceeded to ask AI if Robin Williams would be fine with people using artificial intelligence to “generate his likeness.
“Wow. I always knew I’d end up in the cloud – I just didn’t think it’d be literally…Part of me loves it. Because if this technology helps someone smile, remember a moment, or feel less alone – that’s kind of what I was here for in the first place.“
Another addressed Zelda directly, saying the videos are only going to get better with time, as “soon we won’t be able to tell, and neither will you.” One stated, “You don’t own your likeness, it’s public data“, while someone else actually asked ChatGPT for an analysis on the matter.
Take a look:
I think Zelda should be allowed to kill these people https://t.co/OWibQhy5vW pic.twitter.com/zJhmByqP38
Luckily, there are still people who see just how messed up and Orwellian this is. Support came pouring in for Zelda, backing her thoughts and calling out those who oppose her. Take a look:
“My dad, who I knew on an intimate level, would not like AI renditions of him”
“Well this software created after he died said he would so.”
Do you people hear yourselves?
"soon you won't be able to tell" about her own father is actually depraved, sorry.
Man those people are sociopathic.
"ChatGPT says it's fine to make AI vids of your dad" if I say what I think I'm getting permabanned
The only counter I have is that I don't approve of murder.
All of this makes you wonder where we are going as a society. When did we become so dependent on AI that we no longer have thoughts of our own? When did this gain more importance than human emotions?
Zelda Williams Previously Slammed AI Recreations of Her Father
This isn’t the first time Zelda has been candid about people using AI to recreate photos and videos of her late father. Back in 2023, SAG-AFTRA had listed AI recreations as “a mandatory subject of bargaining” during the strikes, and Robin Williams’ daughter was on their side.
She stated on her Instagram story (via EW), “I am not an impartial voice in SAG’s fight against AI“, adding that she has seen firsthand how people have been misusing the faces of those people who cannot give their consent.
She said, “I’ve witnessed for YEARS how many people want to train these models to create/recreate actors who cannot consent, like Dad. This isn’t theoretical, it is very, very real…I’ve already heard AI used to get his ‘voice’ to say whatever people want and while I find it personally disturbing, the ramifications go far beyond my own feelings.”
Zelda continued talking about the need to put human effort into performances instead of relying on AI. She concluded by calling the recreations a “horrendous Frankensteinian monster, cobbled together from the worst bits” of what the entertainment industry is about.
It is worth noting that in his will, Williams left the rights to his name, signature, photograph, and likeness to the Windfall Foundation, restricting the exploitation of his right of publicity for 25 years after his death (via THR).
Due to this, there won’t be authorized advertisements using him. People will also not be allowed to use him in holograms or digitally add him to a new film, until August 11, 2039, at least. So, for anyone arguing that “likeness is public property,” Williams’ case proves otherwise.
What are your thoughts on Zelda Williams’ fight against AI? Let us know in the comments section below!
