George Carlin’s estate discovers fate of court case regarding AI comedy special
It seems hard to discuss the arts at the minute without the topic of AI creeping into the conversation. While many have talked about the implications it could have in the future, some are already feeling the sting of its effects, as the estate of George Carlin has just settled a lawsuit over an AI-generated imitation of the late comedian.
The imitation was created by the Dudesy podcast, hosted by Chad Kultgen and Will Sasso. The duo put together an hour-long segment of the comedian on YouTube, entitled George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead. The resemblance was uncanny as for an hour, delivering Carlin-like material, the artificially enhanced image of the deceased comedian provided opinions on modern topics such as transgender rights and defunding the police.
Unsurprisingly, Carlin’s estate sued the Dudesy podcast, not only because the release was in poor taste but because it infringed upon their rights under copyright law, given they have the publicity right to Carlin’s name, image and likeness. In response, within a week of the lawsuit being received, the video was taken down.
As part of the settlement, the podcast has agreed to a permanent injunction, which means they cannot upload the video again and cannot use Carlin’s image, likeness, or voice in any future content.
The comics daughter, Kelly Carlin, issued a statement following the settlement agreement: “I am pleased that this matter was resolved quickly and amicably, and I am grateful that the defendants acted responsibly by swiftly removing the video they made.” She continued by addressing the pressing need for safeguards in the face of AI, “While it is a shame that this happened at all, I hope this serves as a warning about the dangers posed by AI technologies and the need for appropriate safeguards, not just for artists and creatives, but every human on earth.”
The Who frontman Roger Daltrey recently commented on AI’s implications for creative industries, saying, “It’s going to destroy the music industry if we’re not careful… Music is a different language, and we shouldn’t let AI control that.”
Many people responsible for AI-based technology claim the aim isn’t to disrupt creative industries but to excel them. In an exclusive interview with Far Out, Yihao Chen, the founder of ITOKA, said, “The goal of this AI technology is not to replace human creativity, but to expand the territory or the boundaries of human creativity.”
While this may be a noble cause, there are certainly questions to be raised about the difference between the motives of companies that make AI technology and the people who use it. Certainly, Carlin’s daughter is correct, and strict safeguards need to be implemented to protect the privacy of individuals and the integrity of art.
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