At first, the parents hesitated. Kristin and Mike Song had not heard their 15-year-old son’s voice since Jan. 31, 2018, when he tragically lost his life due to an unsecured gun at a friend’s house.
The idea of hearing Ethan’s voice, now deepened by puberty, recreated through artificial intelligence, gave them pause. Mike Song pondered the potential for AI misuse and abuse. Despite their previous unsuccessful attempts to advocate for a national law mandating gun safety measures, they hoped that their son’s AI-generated voice might resonate with those desensitized to their unique sorrow.
The Songs, among six families, consented to using AI to replicate the voices of their deceased children or relatives who fell victim to gun violence. This initiative, unveiled online on the sixth anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., was spearheaded by MullenLowe in collaboration with Manuel Oliver, a parent affected by the Parkland tragedy.
The decision to recreate the voices of departed children through AI signifies the profound desperation felt by numerous parents advocating for gun control measures like universal background checks and assault weapon bans, with little tangible progress.
The AI-generated calls, accessible on theshotline.org, allow visitors to listen to Ethan and others’ voices, urging them to take action by contacting congressional offices. Ethan’s voice introduces himself, expresses his passion for fostering animals, and poignantly states his demise.
“My parents utilized AI to replicate my voice, urging you to take steps to safeguard children from gun violence,” the recording articulates. “Children like me are losing their lives daily. It’s time for change.”
According to Mike Song of Guilford, Conn., “This was a heart-wrenching decision for us. However, I believe it has the power to awaken people.”
The ethical implications of employing AI for voice-cloning purposes remain contentious, as noted by Aram Sinnreich, a communications studies professor at American University. While acknowledging the ethical dilemmas, Sinnreich views this initiative as a relatively benign use of voice-cloning technology compared to other potential applications.
Manuel Oliver, propelled by personal tragedy, is confident in the project’s efficacy. Collaborating with MullenLowe through his anti-gun violence organization, Change the Ref, Oliver intends to spark public and legislative attention.
Despite potential criticism for the unsettling nature of the project, Oliver remains resolute in his mission, emphasizing the urgency of addressing gun violence to prevent further tragedies.
While some bereaved parents declined participation, five families, including those of Akilah Dasilva, Uziyah “Uzi” Garcia, Jon-Christian “Jaycee” Kemachet-Webster, and Mike Baughan, opted to recreate their loved ones’ voices. Each family had personal motivations for joining the project, driven by a desire to shed light on ongoing gun violence and honor their loved ones’ anti-gun stance.
The families collaborated with Edisen, a global film production company, to recreate the voices of their deceased children. Through meticulous adjustments in speed, tone, and inflection, the AI voices were tailored to mirror the original voices, as scripted by the families.
The AI-generated voices poignantly convey the enduring impact of gun violence, echoing the families’ plea for legislative action to prevent further tragedies.
