The estate of the late comedian George Carlin has taken legal action against the creators of an AI-generated special titled “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead.” The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, alleges that the media company Dudesy unlawfully condensed five decades of Carlin’s standup routines to train an AI chatbot, which imitated his voice and humor without consent or compensation. The estate is seeking the immediate removal of the special, destruction of all copies, and unspecified damages.
Key Takeaway
The estate of George Carlin has filed a lawsuit against the creators of an AI-generated special, alleging unauthorized use of Carlin’s voice and humor, and seeking the removal of the special and unspecified damages.
AI Special Allegations
- The lawsuit accuses Dudesy of condensing George Carlin’s standup routines to train an AI chatbot.
- The AI special, featuring a robot version of George Carlin, has been available on YouTube since January 9th.
- The estate claims that the unauthorized use of Carlin’s voice and likeness for promotional purposes harms his reputation and legacy.
Daughter’s Denouncement
George Carlin’s daughter, Kelly Carlin-McCall, has been vocal in denouncing the AI special. She released a statement expressing that no technology could replicate her father’s comedic genius. Kelly Carlin-McCall emphasized that the AI program failed to capture her father’s comedic cadence and did not do justice to his legacy.
Legal Precedent
Kelly Carlin-McCall’s wish to have the AI special removed may find support in a recent legal victory by Tom Brady, who successfully had his own AI-generated comedy special removed from the internet. The outcome of these legal actions against AI-generated content could have implications for the future of such productions.
