Robin Williams’s children have taken steps to reactivate their late father’s Instagram account, which had been inactive for a long time, in response to the proliferation of unauthorized AI versions of him. Following his passing on August 11, 2014, at the age of 63, it was revealed that Williams had Lewy body dementia.
In a recent post on the “therobinwilliams” Instagram account, his children Zak, Zelda, and Cody expressed their intention to maintain the account as a secure and reliable space for sharing authentic stories, photos, videos, and memories that truly reflect their father’s legacy with sincerity and warmth. This post marked the first activity on the account since July 31, 2014.
Williams had an illustrious career in film, television, and theater. He gained initial fame through the television sitcom “Mork & Mindy” (1978-82) and went on to star in renowned films such as “Good Morning Vietnam” (1987), “Dead Poets Society” (1989), “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993), and “Jumanji” (1995). His performances earned him an Academy Award for best supporting actor for “Good Will Hunting” (1997) and a special achievement Golden Globe Award for voicing Genie in “Aladdin” (1992).
Recently, AI-generated videos featuring Williams have surfaced online, depicting him in various scenarios like podcasts, stand-up comedy routines, motivational speeches, and even commenting on the dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park.” Many of these videos were produced using OpenAI’s Sora, a video creation and social media application. However, OpenAI discontinued Sora in March after facing backlash from estates of public figures like Williams, Michael Jackson, Mister Rogers, and Martin Luther King Jr., who were depicted in unconventional situations.
Zelda Williams, an actor and director herself, has been vocal in her opposition to AI recreations of her father. She has publicly expressed her discomfort with AI-generated videos of Williams and actively discouraged fans from sharing such content, emphasizing that it does not align with her father’s wishes. In a recent Instagram story, she highlighted the revival of her father’s Instagram account as a means to combat the widespread misuse of AI technology in manipulating his image and voice.
While some individuals, like actor Matthew Lawrence, who co-starred with Williams in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” have expressed interest in utilizing AI to bring back Williams’s voice for special projects, they have stressed the importance of obtaining consent from the Williams family before proceeding.
Similarly, Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., has also denounced the unauthorized use of AI to replicate her father’s likeness.
In a related development, an AI version of the late actor Val Kilmer, who passed away last year at the age of 65, is set to feature in the upcoming film “As Deep As the Grave.” The Kilmer estate approved the digital replication of his image and is receiving compensation for its use.