Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Raising the dead to sell cars

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Can Volkswagen use A.I. to produce a commercial that recreates a famous singer who died 41 years ago?

 

"Elis Regina, the legendary Brazilian singer, has been revived using artificial intelligence for a Volkswagen advert. Her unexpected death at 36 in 1982 shocked the country — one front page said simply “Brazil without Elis” the next day, The Guardian reports. The commercial shows her dueting with her daughter, and was made with a double whose face was replaced using AI. The ad met mixed reactions: The first lady of Brazil tweeted that she was “bawling my eyes out,” but others are uncomfortable, not least since Elis was a staunch opponent of the military dictatorship of the time, with which Volkswagen collaborated. Brazil’s advertising watchdog said they were investigating a possible breach of ethics."

LINK: Guardian story on ad 

     --The Guardian via Semaphor Flagship 

 

Brazil's musicians were a primal force in opposing and ending years of abuse by the country's military junta.

To use their images or music to profit those who enabled the dictatorship seems shameful at best.

 

Clip: Elis Regina & daughter - VW ad  (2.00)

 

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