'This is disrespectful': Outrage as Marilyn Monroe AI chatbot allows users to talk with late actress

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Artificial intelligence seems to have taken a step further, as recently a new chatbot claimed that now its users can engage in conversations with the iconic actress Marilyn Monroe, years after her death on August 4, 1962. 

This update left numerous Monroe fans in shock as they called out AI and the chatbot over its ethics, and some even asserted that this practice is disrespectful to the artist and their families.

Marilyn Monroe brought back to life using AI chatbot

According to Fox News, recently, at the SXSW Film and TV festival, an AI technology company called Soul Machines introduced 'Digital Marilyn,' an AI-generated digital persona that allows fans to interact with the late actress with the help of a chatbot.

Soul Machines' website describes its Biological AI technology as providing "real-time, personalized interaction."

Fox News reports that on their website Soul Machines explains 'Digital Marilyn' on Medium as, "Every interaction is unique. Digital Marilyn analyzes your preferences and tailors her responses accordingly, fostering a genuine connection that resonates with you on an individual level."

Partnering with Authentic Brand Groups, which manages the rights to Monroe’s image and likeness, Soul Machines aims to bring Marilyn Monroe to life in the AI age.

Dana Carpenter, EVP of entertainment at Authentic, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, "Marilyn Monroe remains a timeless icon, inspiring generations with her talent, charisma, and enduring legacy. We are thrilled to partner with Soul Machines, whose cutting-edge technology is the perfect match to bring Marilyn to life in the AI age."

Carpenter further said, "While Marilyn Monroe can never be replaced or duplicated, Digital Marilyn opens exciting possibilities for multiple generations of fans to engage with her in a whole new way, fostering a deeper connection and appreciation for her enduring spirit and the mark she left on the world."

However, some have raised concerns about the legal and ethical implications of AI-induced digital resurrection.

Kris Ruby, founder of Ruby Media Group, highlighted the issue, stating, "AI-induced digital resurrection poses legal and ethical concerns. There is an expression called Rest in peace. AI essentially hijacks this concept by making sure that no one will ever rest in peace again. If everyone is eternally alive forever with deepfake replicas, who is resting, and where is the peace? Not only will we be competing against machines, we will also be competing against the dead."

According to Fox News, Authentic Brand Group manages celebrities who have passed away, such as Elvis Presley, as well as living celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal and David Beckham. Despite the legality of the official partnership, some have expressed concerns about the implications of 'Digital Marilyn.'

Internet users assert AI used for resurrecting dead celebrities is 'bad idea'

Expressing discontent with 'Digital Marilyn' numerous users took to Facebook to criticize the chatbot and lay down its dangers.

A user wrote, "This is disrespectful to the family members and must be a kind of moral decay."

Another user wrote, "People speak of the great potential for AI. I believe that any good will be overshadowed by the potential for harm."

A user commented, "They can't consent, they are dead. And we will never know if what we are looking at on a screen is real or not, ever again."

Another user commented, "This is why AI, when used in this way, is a bad idea."

One user stated, "Ethics is the very last consideration in most endeavors today."

A second user stated, "AI will take over. Live people will longer be necessary. That is the world that humans have created for themselves. We have made ourselves obsolete with computers and technology."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.