A Family Uses AI to Deliver a Message from a Deceased Loved One

AI

 A Family Uses AI to Deliver a Message from a Deceased Loved One

Artificial intelligence is all around us. While some people use it to create funny animated versions of themselves, others are employing it to reconnect with lost loved ones.

We may have reached new frontiers in legal proceedings. Recently, an AI-generated simulation of  deceased man spoke directly to his assailant during a sentencing hearing in Arizona.

The AI-generated avatar of Christopher Bilkie—developed by his family—was presented in Maricopa County Superior Court ahead of the sentencing of Gabriel Paul Horcasitas, who shot and killed Bilkie during a road rage incident in 2021, according to a report from Phone Arena cited by Al Arabiya Business.

The digital version of Bilkie appeared in a video wearing a green jacket, sporting a thick beard, and standing against a white background.

At the start of the video, the avatar clarified that it was an AI representation—a fact made evident by slight vocal distortions and inconsistent speech and facial movements.

In the message, the avatar expressed a tragic sense of irony about the encounter, suggesting that under different circumstances, the two men might have become friends.

Bilkie, a 37-year-old U.S. Army veteran, lost his life in the incident. His family chose to create the AI-generated message as a tribute to his memory and to express their grief.

Since the video was not used as legal evidence, the court allowed more flexibility in presenting it during the sentencing phase.

Horcasitas, previously convicted of manslaughter and endangerment, was sentenced to ten and a half years in state prison.

Stacey Wells, Bilkie’s sister, wrote the script for the avatar after struggling to express her sorrow in her own words. Although she admitted she could not forgive Horcasitas, she believed her brother might have taken a more compassionate approach.

She explained that the video aimed to remind the court of her brother’s humanity and the lasting impact of the tragedy.

Wells collaborated with her husband and a friend—both of whom work in tech—to produce the simulation.

This use of generative AI in court introduces an emotionally powerful and innovative way to apply technology in the legal system.

While courts have been cautious about AI, especially following incidents where attorneys submitted fake AI-generated cases, this non-evidentiary use adds another layer of complexity.

Harry Surden, a law professor at the University of Colorado, noted that using generative AI in court raises ethical concerns.

He pointed out that simulated content may bypass rational analysis and directly affect emotions, making it potentially more powerful—and more problematic—than traditional evidence.

He emphasized that these tools, while realistic in appearance, are ultimately fabricated and should be treated as such.