Wonka Netflix show faces backlash for AI-generated Gene Wilder voice
A Netflix series based on the Wonka character has drawn criticism after using an AI-generated recreation of Gene Wilder's voice, with the actor's estate having given permission for the use. Wilder died in 2016 and cannot consent personally.
Why this matters: Estate consent is not the same as personal consent. That gap matters more as AI makes it routine to recreate dead people's voices, faces, and likenesses in commercial projects. Wilder's family said yes. Wilder could not. Right now, in most places, that is enough legally. It probably should not be the end of the conversation. Who controls your voice and image after you die, and who profits from it, is a question the law has not caught up with.
Who should care: General readers · AI governance · Policy · Privacy officers
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