The Netflix docuseries “American Murder: Gabby Petito” has sparked a heated debate among viewers who are questioning the ethical implications of using artificial intelligence to recreate the voice of Gabby Petito. The three-part series, released this week, delves into the tragic disappearance and death of Petito, a 22-year-old woman who documented her cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, on social media in September 2021.

The Controversial Use of AI Voice Recreations

Petito’s disappearance made national headlines, prompting an extensive search by authorities. Although Laundrie, initially considered a “person of interest,” later died by suicide, leaving behind a note claiming responsibility for her death, as officials stated.

The docuseries utilizes a blend of photographs, video footage, maps, and writings to tell Petito’s story, turning her journal entries and text messages into voice recreations using advanced AI technology. However, this decision has left some viewers feeling unsettled. Criticizing the filmmakers’ creative choice, viewers expressed their discomfort with the recreated voice, describing it as a “step too far” and wholly unnecessary.

Gasparro stated, “We had so much material from her parents that we were able to get. All of her journals since she was young and there was so much of her writing. She documented her trips and most of her life from a young age. We thought it was really important to bring that to life.”

Navigating Ethical Boundaries in AI-Driven Documentaries

While documents may use voice recreation technology, audiences remain conflicted about hearing the recreated voices of deceased individuals. In 2021, director Morgan Neville’s film “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain,” utilized a software company to recreate Bourdain’s voice.

Viewers “probably don’t know” which lines are spoken by the AI model.”
—Morgan Neville, filmmaker, supported by The New Yorker to defend his decision

The debate on the voice recreation technology usage was central to the discourse around Bourdain’s documentary. It highlights the broader concerns regarding ethical standards in using AI technology to revoke of privacy that the deceased individuals kept confidential and private.

Experts Weigh In on the Ethical Dilemma

Merve Hickok, president of the Center for AI and Digital Policy, acknowledges that voice recreation isn’t inherently unethical. She believes that amplifying or improving the accessibility of already public elements via voice cloning is acceptable. However, she cautions that ethical issues arise when sharing confidential content.

I think especially in a murder case, this person’s voice is taken away against her will, so to come back and recreate that after her for commercial reasons is not ethical, regardless of whether there was a family approval or not
—Merve Hickok, president and policy director

Recent polls from social platforms like The Independent indicate that some family members may have mixed feelings about the decision. Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, expressed discomfort with the AI-created voice: “It’s just hard to hear.” and her stepfather, Jim Schmidt, remarked, knowingly, personally, “AI or her real voice” he said, “I still get upset”

Legal and Regulatory Implications

The controversy highlights the need for clearer regulations and guidelines around the use of AI in media. Currently, there are few legal standards regarding the ethical use of AI technologies to reproduce someone’s dialogue post death.

AI challenges must be explored comprehensively by regulatory bodies to keep abreast of legal ramifications associated with intellectual property laws and ethical usage.

Perspective on Tragedy Influencing Paper-Journalism and Media Communities

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