OpenAI’s Sora platform lets users generate strikingly realistic videos of deceased celebrities—Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Malcolm X, and even historical figures like Dwight Eisenhower—despite the company’s policy against depicting living public figures without consent. The tool treats “historical figures” as an exception, allowing anyone to recreate their likeness, voice, and mannerisms in new, often fictional scenarios .
These AI‑generated clips can be virtually indistinguishable from authentic footage, raising urgent concerns about misinformation. Journalists have already produced deepfakes of Eisenhower admitting to bribery, Margaret Thatcher defending the D‑Day “fabrication,” and JFK announcing the moon landing was staged. Such content blurs the line between fact and fabrication, giving malicious actors a powerful tool to rewrite the past .
Family members and estates are pushing back. Celebrities’ children—like Zelda Williams (Robin Williams) and Bernice King (Martin Luther King Jr.)—have publicly denounced the practice, arguing that their loved ones’ legacies are being exploited without permission. OpenAI acknowledges the tension, stating that while free‑speech protections exist for historical figures, they aim to give families control over how a deceased person’s likeness is used .
The ethical debate extends beyond celebrity rights to everyday people. In China, startups sell interactive avatars of departed relatives, letting grieving families “chat” with digital reconstructions. Critics warn this can hinder genuine mourning, while proponents see it as a new form of cultural continuity. As the technology spreads globally, lawmakers and industry leaders grapple with how to balance innovation against consent, dignity, and the risk of deepfake abuse .
