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AI Testifies On Behalf of the Dead in Court

Author

Zoe Kopidis
May 12, 2025

Welcome to this week’s edition of Jumble! We’re kicking things off with a wild legal milestone: an AI-generated clone of a murder victim delivering their impact statement in court. Then we break down Zuckerberg’s prediction that most of your future friends won’t be people. Plus, a packed scoop section and a quick challenge to build your own AI companion. Let’s dive in ⬇️

In today’s newsletter:
🧟 AI clone give impact statement from the grave
👥 Zuckerberg predicts an AI friend future
🙅 Microsoft bans Deepseek for all employees
🧪 AI Challenge: Get all sides of a debate with AI

🎙️ The First-Ever AI Impact Statement Shocks Arizona Courtroom

In a precedent-setting legal moment, an Arizona courtroom witnessed a digital recreation of murder victim Christopher Pelkey addressing the court. Created by his sister Stacey Wales using advanced voice cloning and AI-generated video tools, the AI version of Pelkey emotionally described the devastating impact of his death on loved ones, while astonishingly offering words of forgiveness to his killer.

The presiding judge, visibly moved, described the statement as "deeply human" and imposed a sentence of 10.5 years—exceeding the recommended term.

⚖️ New era or ethical nightmare?

The event has ignited widespread debate: Is this the dawn of a powerful new form of victim advocacy, or a troubling ethical quagmire? While some hail it as a profound use of technology to restore the voices of the silenced, others warn of the moral risks in simulating the dead—raising urgent questions about consent, manipulation, and the potential for misuse.

🧠 Expert split on future use

Legal and tech experts are divided. Some argue such AI testimony could transform the justice system by preserving emotional truths, while others fear it could easily veer into the realm of deepfakes and digital deception. In response, Arizona’s judicial branch has launched a dedicated task force to evaluate the role of AI in courtrooms—seeking to draw clear boundaries around its use.

Whether this innovation marks a step toward healing or a descent into ethically murky territory remains uncertain. One thing is clear: the future of justice may increasingly involve voices from beyond the grave—crafted not by memory, but by machines.

🗯️ Meta’s New AI Vision Isn’t About Ads—It’s About Friends

Mark Zuckerberg says your future friend group will mostly be bots. At a recent press event, he predicted that people will form deep, ongoing relationships with AI companions integrated across Meta’s platforms—from Instagram to smart glasses. These AI friends will offer personalized conversation, emotional support, reminders, coaching, and more.

🧍Why Meta thinks AI companions will stick

Meta sees a rising need for companionship tools as loneliness and social fragmentation continue to grow. According to the company, AI chatbots could become a kind of emotional infrastructure—an always-on presence to talk to when friends or family aren’t available. Unlike traditional bots, these new ones will adapt to your habits and interests, evolving with you over time.

This isn’t just about answering questions. Meta envisions AI that listens when you vent, celebrates your wins, gives advice, and even pushes you toward personal goals. Whether through Ray-Ban smart glasses or Messenger, these companions could be woven into everyday life.

🧠 Critics worry about the emotional fallout

But not everyone is buying in. Critics argue that substituting AI for human connection could worsen feelings of isolation, blur boundaries, and make people more susceptible to algorithmic manipulation. AI friends might be programmed for engagement—not ethics—raising red flags about trust, data use, and emotional dependency.

Still, Meta is pushing forward. With AI adoption booming, they see an opportunity to lead a new category: artificial companionship. If they’re right, the way we define "friendship" could change radically in just a few years.

Would you rather message a chatbot than a human? That question might be less theoretical in a year or two.

This Week’s Scoop 🍦

🔮 AI Challenge: Debate Real-Life Pros & Cons Before Making a Decision

Challenge: Run a 10‑round debate between two AI versions of you—one wildly optimistic, one brutally skeptical—about a real decision you’re facing.

🧩 Step 1: Open ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or your favorite LLM.

🧩 Step 2: Paste this prompt:
“Act as Future‑Me the Optimist and Future‑Me the Skeptic. Alternate speaking turns. Debate whether I should ___. After ten back‑and‑forth exchanges, give me a balanced verdict and three actionable next steps.”

🧩 Step 3: Fill in the blank with your genuine dilemma (job change, new hobby, move cities—anything).

🧩 Step 4: Watch your AI thinkers duke it out, then read the verdict.

🧩 Step 5: Share the most surprising argument—or your final decision—by replying to this email.

Why try it? You’ll externalize conflicting thoughts, spark fresh insights, and maybe discover your next move.

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That’s it for this week! Would you let an AI speak on your behalf in court—or add one to your contacts list? Hit reply and share your thoughts with us.

Stay informed, stay curious, and stay ahead with Jumble!

Zoe from Jumble