Chris Pelkey, a victim of a road rage shooting in Chandler, Arizona, in 2021, made a unique appearance in an Arizona court three-and-a-half years later through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). In a video recording, Pelkey addressed his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas, expressing a surprising sentiment of potential friendship in another life despite the tragic circumstances. Pelkey, a 37-year-old devoutly religious army combat veteran, was shot by Horcasitas at a red light after exiting his vehicle and approaching Horcasitas’s car.
Pelkey’s sister, Stacey Wales, spearheaded the AI project to create a victim impact statement, wondering what Chris would say if he could. By feeding videos and audio of Pelkey into an AI model, they aimed to capture his sentiments authentically, likening the process to a “Frankenstein of love.” The AI-rendered message was well-received in court, with Judge Todd Lang commending the forgiveness expressed and ultimately sentencing Horcasitas to 10-and-a-half years in prison for manslaughter.
Pelkey’s brother John also found solace in the AI-generated appearance of his brother, feeling “waves of healing” and believing that Chris would have forgiven his killer. This innovative use of AI in the courtroom comes at a time when the US judicial conference advisory committee is seeking public input on regulating AI-generated evidence at trial, reflecting the increasing influence of AI technology in legal proceedings.
