In a groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence, a video of Chris Pelkey, a victim of a road rage shooting in Arizona, was presented in court to address his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas. The AI-generated video was created by Pelkey’s sister, Stacey Wales, and her husband, who fed the model numerous videos and audio recordings of Pelkey. In the video, Pelkey appears wearing a grey baseball cap and sporting the same thick red and brown beard he had in life. “To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me, it is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances,” Pelkey says in the video. “In another life, we probably could have been friends. I believe in forgiveness, and a God who forgives. I always have, and I still do.” Pelkey, a 37-year-old army combat veteran, was known for his devout religious beliefs. The AI technology was used to create a victim impact statement, potentially marking the first time AI has been used in such a manner. The US judicial conference advisory committee is now seeking to regulate the use of AI-generated evidence in trials. Judge Todd Lang praised the use of AI, stating, “I loved that AI, thank you for that. As angry as you are, as justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness. I feel that that was genuine.” Pelkey’s brother, John, also supported the AI-generated statement, feeling “waves of healing” from seeing his brother’s face and believing that Chris would have forgiven his killer. Horcasitas was ultimately sentenced to 10.5 years in prison on manslaughter charges.
By techgeekwire
