'NOT what he'd want': Robin Williams' daughter speaks out on AI

"As artificial intelligence becomes less of a buzzword and more of a ubiquitous part of everyday life, it's easy to forget the emotional ramifications of AI-generated art. On Monday, Zelda Williams, the daughter of revered San Francisco comedian Robin Williams, offered a sharply worded reminder that AI creations don't compare to the real thing, and that sometimes its best to let beloved figures rest in piece."

"Williams often speaks out about her father's legacy, and has developed her own career as an actor and filmmaker, releasing her directorial debut feature "Lisa Frankenstein" in 2024. She posted to her Instagram Stories a long rebuttal to people sending her AI-generated videos featuring her father's likeness. "If you've got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even, full stop. It's dumb, it's a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it's NOT what he'd want," she wrote."

"Williams went on to rail on the quality of the state of AI art. "You're not making art, you're making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else's throat hoping they'll give you a little thumbs up and like it." Williams previously spoke out about the dangers of AI on several occasions, including in 2023 during the SAG-AFTRA strike and this March when she criticized OpenAI's feature that allowed users to recreate the style of iconic Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli."

Artificial intelligence increasingly permeates daily life and can cause emotional harm when used to recreate deceased individuals' likenesses without consent. Zelda Williams received AI-generated videos of her father's likeness and publicly demanded that people stop sharing such creations, calling them disrespectful, wasteful, and not what he would have wanted. She criticized the quality of AI art as "disgusting, over-processed hotdogs" that exploit human lives and cultural history. Williams has repeatedly warned about AI risks, speaking out during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and criticizing tools that mimic Studio Ghibli's style. Williams also continues her career as an actor and filmmaker.

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