Los Angeles, California – The estate of late comedian George Carlin has recently come to a settlement with the creators of a comedy special that utilized artificial intelligence to mimic the iconic comedian. In a proposal awaiting approval from a Central District of California judge, the team behind the controversial special “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead” has agreed to permanently refrain from sharing the hour-long YouTube video on any platforms and to cease using Carlin’s image, voice, or likeness without approval from his estate.
Attorney Joshua Schiller, representing the plaintiffs, expressed satisfaction with the settlement, emphasizing the importance of removing the offending videos from the internet to preserve Carlin’s legacy and address the potential threats posed by emerging AI technology to reputational and intellectual property rights.
The fake comedy special, which appeared on YouTube in January, sparked outrage among Carlin’s fans for its purported use of AI to emulate the comedian’s voice, style, and subject matter. The purported AI engine, “Dudesy,” claimed to have studied Carlin’s material to create the imitation. However, skepticism arose among viewers regarding the authenticity of the AI-generated content.
On January 25, Carlin’s estate filed a lawsuit against the hosts of the podcast, Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, as well as Dudesy LLC and other unidentified individuals associated with the special, accusing them of unauthorized use of Carlin’s identity by using his body of work to train AI. Sasso and Kultgen have yet to respond to requests for comments on the matter.
Kelly Carlin, George Carlin’s daughter, expressed satisfaction with the swift resolution and removal of the video, highlighting the case as a cautionary tale about the risks posed by AI technologies and advocating for the implementation of appropriate safeguards to protect the rights of artists, creatives, and individuals worldwide.