George Carlin is coming back to life in new AI-generated comedy special
George Carlin's family is pushing back against a new artificial intelligence-generated comedy special claiming to bring the legend's work back to life.
The AI icon is true to form with an inflammatory set featuring opinions on Trump, transgender Americans, reality TV and tech. The hourlong comedy special from Dudesy features an AI spin on Carlin's takes on current events. Dudesy is an AI comedy platform from Mad TV alum Will Sasso and podcaster Chad Kultgen.
"For the next hour, I'll be doing my best George Carlin impersonation just like a human being would. I tried to capture his iconic style to tackle the topics I think the comedy legend would be talking about today," a YouTube description written by AI reads.
George Carlin's daughter responds to artificial intelligence comedy special
Carlin's daughter, Kelly Carlin-McCall, has since responded in a post on Instagram, expressing disdain for the technological take on comedy and saying the AI impression will never "replace his genius."
"My dad spent a lifetime perfecting his craft from his very human life, brain and imagination. No machine will ever replace his genius," she captioned a screenshot of a news story on the special. "These AI generated products are clever attempts at trying to recreate a mind that will never exist again. Let’s let the artist's work speak for itself."
She continued: "Humans are so afraid of the void that we can’t let what has fallen into it stay there. Here’s an idea, how about we give some actual living human comedians a listen to? But if you want to listen to the genuine George Carlin, he has 14 specials that you can find anywhere."
Responding to a commenter asking if the AI comedy special was authorized, Carlin-McCall responded that it was not.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Carlin's estate for comment.
During the stand-up special, Dudesy clarifies that Dudesy's recreation is not the real Carlin and the content was created in the same way a human impressionist would.
“I listened to all of George Carlin’s material and did my best to imitate his voice, cadence and attitude,” the AI impression said at the start of the set.
In April, NFL legend Tom Brady threatened to sue the pair of comedians behind Dudesy after an AI-generated comedy special featuring the former Buccaneers quarterback telling jokes, according to reports from CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated.
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The AI impression of Carlin also tackled the sensitive issue of gun rights activists' intersection with transgender Americans.
“They say trans people make up such a small percentage of the population, that they shouldn't get to have any input in legislation, even laws that will directly affect their communities and lives. Funny how that same argument doesn't apply to members of the NRA,” the AI-generated impression said.
Dudesy also tackled billionaires, throwing shade at tech titans such as Tesla founder Elon Musk.
“I'd just like to say that as much as I think billionaires are destroying the fabric of society with unchecked greed and blatant self-interest at the expense of basic human rights for everyone else, it is a little strange to me that people get mad at them. People are the ones who gave them the money in the first place," the AI Carlin said.
Everything from the special's title, "I'm Glad I'm Dead," to the subject matter featuring Carlin's famed social commentary mimics the essence of the late controversial comedy star. Carlin died in 2008 of heart failure.
In 2009, a posthumous autobiography from Carlin titled "Last Words," was published. The memoir explored his rough childhood in an Irish Catholic neighborhood in New York, "rocky" 36-year marriage and rise to comedy fame.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Carlin has a new AI-generated comedy special
