An AI-replicated Sir Michael Parkinson is about to host a brand new podcast, that includes a collection of fully unscripted interviews with celebrities.
Nearly Parkinson is a world-first podcast in keeping with its producers, Deep Fusion Movies, and has been made with the help and involvement of Parkinson’s household and property.
Recognized for his interviews with the world’s largest stars, Parkinson died final 12 months aged 88, following a quick sickness.
The eight-part present will use AI expertise to synthetically recreate the late presenter’s voice and interview type, drawing from a again catalogue of over 2,000 of his interviews.
The system – dubbed “Squark” – makes use of AI instruments to permit stay people to talk with voices from the previous.
Calling it “a tribute to my Dad,” Parkinson’s son, Mike Parkinson, reached out to the corporate with the thought of making the podcast, as a method to protect his father’s legacy.
He stated: “I want audiences to marvel at the technology, the cleverness and cheekiness of the concept, but mostly I want them to remember just how good he was at interviewing and enjoy the nostalgia and happy memories.
“Via this platform, his legacy can proceed, entertaining a brand new technology of followers.”
Deep Fusion Films co-founder Jamie Anderson said watching Parkinson’s son’s reaction to hearing his late father’s voice was “one thing actually particular,” adding that those who had listened to the AI replication had been “wowed” by its accuracy and heat.
Picture:
Parkinson and Tom Cruise in 2004. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
The corporate has expanded to create the venture, hiring a brand new head of inventive AI, an AI immediate engineer, researchers, visitor bookers, podcast producers, and a sound engineer.
AI ethics within the highlight
Considerations over the rising use of AI within the business partly impressed final 12 months’s US strike by actors and writers, which introduced Hollywood to a digital standstill.
In 2022, the UK appearing union Fairness launched a marketing campaign known as Cease AI Stealing The Present.
Performers have discovered their jobs significantly weak to new expertise, placing each their livelihoods and reputations in danger, within the case of deepfakes mistaken by the general public as the true factor.
Pertaining to the ethics of the venture, Deep Fusion Movies says it’s “openly showcasing the AI aspect,” and can signpost that the podcast is hosted by AI at first.
It’s going to additionally characteristic a debrief with the interviewee about what it was wish to be interviewed by an AI on the finish.
Visitors are but to be confirmed, however are stated to be “notable people from a variety of spheres” together with movie and TV, music, and politics.
Born right into a household of miners in Barnsley, Parkinson’s broadcasting profession noticed him entrance greater than 600 exhibits and a pair of,000 interviews, working with the BBC, ITV, and Sky.
He interviewed stars together with John Wayne, Fred Astaire, John Lennon, Tom Cruise, Madonna, and the Beckhams.
Nearly Parkinson will probably be launched on the official Michael Parkinson YouTube channel later this 12 months, alongside a curated assortment of archival footage.
