Amy Redford Doesn't Want To See Your AI Tributes to Her Dad

There is lots of me on the internet. I’ve hosted a few podcasts, appeared in some sketches and videos, was on TV as a cryptozoologist, and I’m even on the TikTok. My wife has said before that, Zod forbid anything happen to me, my sons will have no shortage of material through which to get to know their dad. And I’m not even famous. I’m just a theater kid who has never been easily embarrassed and is constantly looking for new ways for people to pay attention to me.

Were I to shuffle off this mortal coil, I’d be happy with what I’ve left behind. There are probably some embarrassing tidbits in there. I was a lot more off the cuff in my early podcast days. A bit less guarded. There will be ample discussion about my masturbation habits that my kids may be subjected to, but dammit, that’s their dad! What I wouldn’t want is for all that material to be used to figure out how I may react to some new world event or something.

Luckily (I guess), I’m not famous by any stretch. It’s likely that the only people who will want to harvest my voice through AI to generate a clip of me saying something stupid would be my children. And, hopefully, I will have trained them against that idea by then. Besides, they can currently get me to say plenty of stupid things, and what’s better than the real deal?

My passing will not be similar to Robert Redford’s. Redford was a mega-star, and his death garnered tributes from other people of his stature with whom he was friends. That said, we live in the worst timeline, and there have been people who did not know the Captain America: The Winter Soldier star and have made AI tributes to him online. His daughter, Amy Redford, is not a fan.

Amy Redford took to Instagram recently to thank fans for their support, but also noted that some people have taken things too far. “There have been multiple AI versions of funerals, tributes, and quotes from members of my family that are fabrications,” she explained. “Renderings of my Dad who clearly has no say, and depictions of my family that do not represent anyone in a positive light are extra challenging during a difficult time. We are grieving together, and we are all in support of one another.”

She continued her rebuke of the AI tributes, writing, “AI isn’t going anywhere. My hope is to keep AI in the land of transparent usage where it belongs. There are many elements of it that were created with good intent. I simply ask, what if this was you? Let that be your guidepost,” she posted. “Let human authenticity live, inspire and be the connective tissue we all crave.” I’d love to think a plea like this would fall on the right ears, but I doubt it.

While she noted that there may be a public memorial for her father, she said, “Every family should have the ability to mourn, represent the person they lost, and pay homage in the way that fits their values and family culture best.” That’s really what it comes down to. She lost her father. Yes, he was in the public eye, but he was a person with a family, and they should be able to decide how his legacy continues. Having AI slop forced on her instead is beyond shameful.