Since the silence that followed the tragic passing of the renowned actor Robin Williams, technology has taken an unsettling turn. Recently, his daughter Zelda Williams issued a firm statement on social media, asking everyone to “please stop sending me AI-generated videos that recreate my father’s image.”
The filmmaker described these creations as “disturbing and disgusting”, warning that they do not represent what her father would have wanted. She added that these digital recreations feel empty and saturated, violating the deeply human legacy her father left behind.
Today, as several of these AI-generated videos continue to circulate online, Zelda Williams is calling for respect, urging that her father’s memory not be turned into meaningless digital content.
How far should ethics go in using artificial intelligence to recreate people who are no longer with us?
In this case, the line seems clear: without consent and without sensitivity toward those left behind, such projects risk becoming acts of emotional exploitation rather than heartfelt tributes.
