Son of Michael Parkinson Defends New AI Podcast Project

The son of Sir Michael Parkinson has voiced support for the application of artificial intelligence to replicate the voice of the deceased chat show presenter for an upcoming interview podcast series. Titled “Virtually Parkinson,” the production by Deep Fusion Films is supported by Sir Michael’s family and estate. This eight-episode series is set to feature the Barnsley-born broadcaster, who passed away last year at the age of 88, engaging with a variety of new guests. During an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program, his son, Mike Parkinson, stated that he had conveyed to producers his strong desire for it “really wanted to it to be clear [to listeners] it was an AI iteration.” Nevertheless, the launch of the podcast occurs amidst intense discussion regarding the deployment of AI within creative fields, with numerous individuals asserting that its use demands careful and ethical consideration, or should perhaps be avoided entirely. A significant number of broadcasters and screen actors express apprehension regarding the threat AI presents to their professional careers, in addition to potential issues arising from the public mistaking AI-generated content for genuine individuals or products. In 2022, the Equity union initiated a campaign titled “Stop AI Stealing the Show.” The role of AI was a primary contributor to the strikes that paralyzed Hollywood last year. However, since Sir Michael is deceased and consequently no longer has a livelihood to safeguard, the discussion in this particular instance focuses more on the ethical implications of having him utter statements he never made in his lifetime, and also on whether audiences genuinely desire AI renditions of actual hosts. Mike Parkinson affirmed that Ben Field and Jamie Anderson, co-creators at Deep Fusion, “are 100% very ethical in their approach towards it, they are very aware of the legal and ethical issues, and they will not try to pass this off as real.” Describing the podcast’s origins, Parkinson stated: “Before he died, we [my father and I] talked about doing a podcast, and unfortunately he passed away before it came true, which is where Deep Fusion came in. “I came to them and said, ‘if we wanted to do this podcast with my father talking about his archive, is it possible?’, and they said ‘it’s more than possible, we think we can do something more’.” He further commented that his father “would have been fascinated” by the undertaking, despite observing that the broadcaster was, in fact, a “technophobe.” Addressing the AI-generated iteration of his father, Parkinson remarked: “It’s extraordinary what they’ve achieved, because I didn’t really think it was going to be as accurate as that.” Anderson, who was interviewed concurrently with Parkinson, contributed: “I don’t think it’s about being better. “The AI Michael is not replacing a presenter, it is a new podcast where Sir Michael’s legacy has continued. So it’s not taking away a presenter’s job.” This perspective is likely to be contested by numerous contemporary presenters. Should a celebrity guest agree to an interview with the AI Sir Michael, it could plausibly eliminate an alternative interview opportunity that might have been conducted by a human journalist. Parkinson stated that a key motivation for him was to “find a new, younger audience, one that possibly wasn’t aware of what my father could do.” He further commented: “It’s a wonderful way of extending the life of someone who was an outlier and a unique talent of his generation.” Elaborating on the podcast’s functionality, Anderson explained: “These are brand new interviews, and the AI we’ve created is as close to the late Sir Michael as we could possibly get it. “He is autonomous, so we let him start the interview and after that it is up to AI Sir Michael, who is trained on Sir Michael’s style and the interview questions.” He also mentioned: “We can’t tell you the guests yet, we have a few slots remaining, but they are notable, noteworthy people.” Sir Michael’s television career encompassed seven decades, during which he interviewed the world’s most prominent celebrities on his enduring chat program, broadcast initially on the BBC and subsequently on ITV.