The legacy of American comedian George Carlin filed a complaint last Thursday against the creators of a video featuring the actor, 15 years after his death, using artificial intelligence.
The hour-long video, titled “George Carlin: I’m glad I’m dead,” was posted on the YouTube channel of the comedy podcast Dudesy.
Will Lasso and Chad Kultgen, who host the podcast, as well as the people behind the artificial intelligence named Dudesy, are being sued for copyright infringement over the video, which Kelly Carlin called the daughter of the late actor, of “rape and pillage” of her father’s art.
The video does not show an image of Mr. Carlin, but his voice taken over by artificial intelligence addresses the actor’s favorite subjects such as religion and politics, but also contemporary problems in the United States such as shootings, trans issues or even Donald Trump. The comedian would even be inclined, thanks to artificial intelligence, to make jokes about his own death.
“Carlin, one of the most legendary stand-up comedians in history, dedicated his life to perfecting his craft, only for a duo of “podcasters” and a mysterious artificial intelligence to hastily put together a special titled ‘George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead,’ without permission, and posting it on YouTube,” Carlin’s estate said in a statement to NBC News Thursday evening.
“Let the artist’s work speak for itself. Humans fear a vacuum so much that we can’t let what falls into it stay there,” said Kelly Carlin on X in response to Dudesy’s video.
