AI voiceover in Gabby Petito documentary sparks viewer outrage

The tragic murder of 22-year-old Gabby Petito in 2021 captivated social media and true crime communities as the case unfolded in real-time through her travel vlogs and social media posts. Netflix’s new docuseries “American Murder: Gabby Petito” has sparked controversy by using AI technology to recreate Petito’s voice for narrating her personal journal entries.

Key details of the controversy: Netflix’s three-part documentary series employs AI-generated voice technology to narrate Petito’s writings, with explicit permission from her family.

• The series begins with a disclaimer explaining that Petito’s journal entries and text messages are narrated using voice recreation technology
• Director Michael Gasparro defended the decision, stating the team wanted to tell the story through “Gabby’s voice as possible”
• Social media creators have generated hundreds of thousands of views discussing the ethical implications of the AI voice recreation

Historical context: The use of AI-generated voices for deceased individuals has previously created similar controversies in documentary filmmaking.

• The documentary “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” faced backlash for using AI-generated narration without clearly indicating which portions were synthetic
• Notable figures like Robert Downey Jr. have taken preemptive steps against AI replication of their likeness
• James Earl Jones has established specific parameters with Disney regarding the use of his voice for Darth Vader

Industry developments: Voice cloning technology is gaining traction in entertainment, with companies securing rights to recreate famous voices.

• ElevenLabs has obtained rights to create AI versions of legendary performers including James Dean, Judy Garland, and Sir Laurence Olivier
• These AI voices will be integrated into ElevenLabs’ Reader app
• The technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated, leading to new opportunities and ethical considerations

Evolving ethical landscape: The intersection of documentary storytelling and AI technology raises complex questions about authenticity and respect for the deceased.

• Content creators must balance technological capabilities with ethical responsibilities
• Questions persist about transparency in using AI-generated voices
• The involvement of estates and family members adds another layer to the ethical discussion

Future implications: As AI voice technology becomes more advanced and widespread, the entertainment industry will need to establish clear guidelines and best practices for its use in biographical and documentary content. The debate surrounding the Petito documentary may serve as a catalyst for developing industry standards around AI voice recreation.