‘Putting words in his mouth’: John Curley uneasy about AI reviving murder victim’s voice
May 10, 2025, 5:02 AM
Stacey Wales, sister of the late Christopher Pelkey, displays her brother's image at her mother's home, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Chandler, Ariz. (AP photo: Matt York)
(AP photo: Matt York)
A road rage hearing in Phoenix took an unexpected twist, as a dead victim’s voice was resurrected through the use of artificial intelligence, NPR reported Wednesday. In a bizarre yet deeply emotional moment, the victim, Christopher Pelkey, spoke from beyond the grave.
However, John Curley, host of “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio, thinks the use of AI made the words seem disingenuous.
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“So you’re still basically putting words in his mouth,” Curley said.
Family uses AI to resurrect murder victim’s voice in court
Pelkey died in 2021 when he was shot and killed in a road rage incident. The case had finally made it to court, and family members were invited to speak before Judge Todd Lang to deliver victim impact statements.
As these closing statements are often some of the most emotional moments in a courtroom, the Pelkey family used the unique approach to make sure that Pelkey could confront his killer.
“What a strange world,” Curely said.
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