"An AI-generated image for illustrative purpose.

I already think it was quite scary that an AI generated image of anyone could be created and very few, if anyone, could tell the difference between it and the real person. They’ve managed to revive many famous people who passed away long ago. People like Mahatma Gandhi, Robin Williams and even Einstein. Some AI videos have, of course, been in poor taste where a dead celebrity has been generated to look as though he is alive and living and attending events.

Apparently, this happened to the late Robin Williams, to the dismay and distress of his daughter. Another cruel one was that of 3-year-old Jamie Bulger, who was abducted and killed back in 1992. An AI generated video was made of him speaking to his mother, who was very upset to see it and had the video taken down.

Then there are AI videos that are misleading where the AI generated celebrity is endorsing something or verifying something when they had nothing to do with it. We all know that when a famous person vouches for something, we tend to believe them, especially when it’s related to a product or service. And apparently these images are so lifelike that people can’t tell the difference between them and the actual person.

I did a quick Google search of AI generated images of famous people and I have to tell you that some of them are way off when it comes to likenesses. So, whoever can’t always tell the difference from them and the real deal probably needs spectacles, or they’ve forgotten what the celebrity looks like.

There was a movie that was remade some years ago, called Stepford Wives, with Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick and Christopher Walken in which the wives’ brains were rewired to do exactly as their husbands wished them to. These weren’t bots but the actual wives. Then they also had robot dogs as pets that were programmed to behave like a real dog. In fact, this is not science fiction because such bots have indeed been developed and have been around for a while.

They might sound creepy to many but if someone really wants a pet without the pet dander, and everything else that comes with it, these bots might be a good idea. There’d be no feeding, no need to clear up after the pet has done its business and no need to do forced walkies every day. There’d be no shots to be had, no vet bills and probably no biting, and the pet wouldn’t die causing distress to the owner or the children who owned it.

Now dogs and cats can be cuddly and there is numerous medical evidence that stroking a dog or cat, or any furry mammal, can reduce blood pressure and make the individual feel better. None of this, of course, is going to happen with a bot dog so there is that downside with metallic objects.

There’ve also been robot companions for the lonely. They can be male or female in gender and have been developed to offer partnership and companionship to those who have trouble with people in real life. These bots can simulate conversation. They’re not designed to look like anyone but are, nevertheless, quite spooky and one is often reminded of the movie Automata where the key female role is played by an actress pretending to be a Bot.

But I will tell you what actually is rather creepy. They’ve now developed a bot doll that’s the age of a 3-year-old child. It’s meant to look, sound and act like a 3-year-old. Does this remind anyone of anything? Well, when I read this, it instantly reminded me of the horror movie, ‘Child’s Play’, in which the doll came alive and turned crazy. It also reminded me of ‘The Boy’, ‘Brahms’ and ‘Annabelle’ all of which featured dolls that went on a killing spree. Therefore, I wonder who would actually consider buying such a doll. Would it be childless couples maybe? If this bot is the only hope for them then, hopefully, they won’t have seen the movies I just mentioned because, if they have, they’d never get one.