In Arizona, the family of a deceased victim utilized artificial intelligence technologies to create a virtual replica of Kris Pelkey, who was killed during a road rage incident in 2021. This innovative solution allowed the virtual Kris to “return” to court and testify at the hearing regarding his murderer.
This is reported by Finway
The judge agreed to the use of this approach during sentencing. Kris Pelkey’s relatives gathered video, audio, and photographs so that artificial intelligence could recreate his appearance and voice. The deceased’s sister, Stacey Wails, noted that the text voiced by the AI reflected Kris’s character, which was always forgiving. She emphasized that the goal was to convey his kindness and faith in God.
Virtual Testimony in Court
In the recording presented in court, the virtual Kris stated that under different circumstances, he could have befriended his killer. He expressed forgiveness to Gabriel Horkasitas, who shot him. Judge Todd Lang remarked that the virtual Kris’s address was sincere and sentenced the defendant to 10.5 years in prison.
Ethical Questions Regarding AI Use
Retired federal judge Paul Grimm noted that the application of artificial intelligence in judicial practice is already common in Arizona, as it is used, for example, to streamline decision-making. However, business ethics professor Derek Leben expressed concerns about the potential ethical implications of such use. He pointed out that technologies could distort the will of the deceased and raised questions about the true intentions of the individual.
Stacey Wails explained that their family approached this issue ethically and views artificial intelligence as a tool that can be used for good or harm. She emphasized:
“For us, this became an opportunity to give Kris the last word.”
It is worth noting that it was previously reported that artificial intelligence helped a paralyzed patient control a robotic arm using the power of thought.