AI News Monitor

Netflix’s new docuseries, American Murder: Gabby Petito, has ignited controversy among viewers for its use of artificial intelligence to recreate the voice of Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old whose tragic disappearance and death captivated the nation in 2021. While the filmmakers say they received the family’s blessing, many critics are calling the decision “unsettling” and “unethical.”

The three-part series, released this week, chronicles Petito’s cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, and the subsequent investigation into her disappearance. Laundrie, who was named a person of interest, later died by suicide, leaving behind a note claiming responsibility for her death. The documentary features interviews, photographs, and video footage, but it’s the AI recreation of Petito’s voice—used to narrate her journal entries and text messages—that has drawn backlash.

A disclaimer in the first episode explains the use of “voice recreation technology,” but viewers on social media have expressed discomfort with the choice. Critics on platforms like X and TikTok have described the AI voice as “deeply uncomfortable” and “a step too far,” questioning the ethics of recreating the voice of a deceased individual, particularly in a true crime context.

Directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro defended the decision, telling Us Weekly that Petito’s family supported the use of AI to bring her writings to life. “We wanted to tell the story as much through Gabby as possible. It’s her story,” Gasparro said. However, some family members, including Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, admitted to The Independent that hearing the AI recreation was “weird” and “a little off.”

The debate over AI voice cloning in documentaries is not new. In 2021, director Morgan Neville faced similar criticism for using AI to recreate the voice of late chef Anthony Bourdain in Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain. Merve Hickok, president of the Center for AI and Digital Policy, told reporters that while voice cloning can be ethical in some contexts, using it in a murder case raises significant concerns. “This person’s voice was taken away against her will,” Hickok said. “To recreate that for commercial reasons is not ethical, regardless of family approval.”

As AI technology continues to evolve, the ethical boundaries of its use in media remain a contentious issue. For now, the controversy surrounding American Murder: Gabby Petito highlights the delicate balance between storytelling innovation and respect for the deceased.