George Carlin Comedy Special Made By AI Is A Nightmare, Comedian’s Daughter Responds

By April Ryder | Updated

george carlin

Comedian George Carlin’s daughter feels like the new AI-generated comedy special entitled George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead featuring a computer-generated act in the form of her late father is a nightmare, but is it? 

Given the real George Carlin’s very open opinion on the influx of technology in everyday life, he may not have approved of an AI version of himself, and it seems his daughter feels the same way. 

George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead is a computer-generated act in the form of the late comedian

You can see the George Carlin-influence comedy special below.

In a statement on her X profile, Kelly Carlin stated that “no machine will ever replace his genius”, and she’s right. However, is it so terrible that people enjoy the essence of George Carlin for generations? 

The new applications of AI technology as of late, certainly open up many different discussion points among individuals today. There are some clear perks and some downfalls to be considered, but the content released via Dudesy on YouTube was entertaining. 

The hour-long George Carlin AI comedy special was funny. It was informative. It was thought-provoking. It felt like Carlin. For fans of the comic, it sounded like George. You’re used to going about your business with the genius of Carlin dancing around in the background, and the AI production fits the bill. It was good. 

For fans of the comic, it sounded like George Carlin

Another notable point is that the AI production made no effort to try to deceive listeners into thinking this was some lost George Carlin act. The AI voice at the beginning of the production was clear that the act was derived from a compilation of all of Carlin’s work, his interviews, and much more, but it is in fact, not George Carlin. 

However, it’s understandable that George Carlin’s daughter would want to preserve the memory of her father in an organic and genuine manner, rather than injecting his memory with newly formatted digital recreations of his wit. 

From George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead

At another point in her statement regarding the AI special, Kelly Carlin made a bold but intriguing statement saying that “humans are so afraid of the void that we can’t let what has fallen into it stay there”. It’s true that people (in general) don’t like to let the dead die. 

The AI voice at the beginning of the production was clear that the act was derived from a compilation of all of Carlin’s work, his interviews, and much more

Also, if you want to listen to or watch George Carlin do what he did best, there are a lot of options on the table. The comedian has an extensive collection of work that spans more than 40 years. There’s no shortage of Carlin content available to the public. 

Though it may not have been exactly a “nightmare”, the AI comedy special’s release has undoubtedly stirred up some emotion among those who knew and loved George Carlin during his living years. The release of the special also begs the question … Is there any legal way for Carlin’s family to prohibit things like this from being made?

george carlin

The AI reproduction and use of George Carlin’s voice and his name were not cleared by his living relatives or his estate

The AI reproduction and use of George Carlin’s voice and his name were not cleared by his living relatives or his estate, and Kelly Carlin is reportedly looking into legal action regarding the special. While there has been a wide acceptance of human impersonations of public figures for many years, the rules and laws on AI systems are much less clear. 

As of now, it has not yet legally been sorted whether or not AI systems fall under the “fair use” legal doctrine. A rising number of issues with AI reproductions seems to be pushing lawmakers toward a call to action. What are your thoughts on the role of technology in entertainment today?