In a world where almost everything has become controversial, “AI slop” has made it all significantly worse. Charlie Kirk‘s death was horrible, and no one should be celebrating an assassination, obviously. But now, instead of letting the man rest in peace with respect, so many illogical people are either spitting on his grave or utilizing him as a human weapon for more injustice. And now with AI, online users have been able to disrespect the deceased further by generating a bizarre video of him talking with the Apostles.
Taken originally from TikTok, an online user has uploaded the video to Reddit, showing Charlie Kirk introducing himself and his “new friends” in glory, including the Apostle Paul, Steven, Andrew, and Peter. All of these men were martyrs for their religious beliefs in a very different setting than the modern US: literally a different culture, country, and timeframe. However, the author of the TikTok video thought it was valid to rank Kirk with the Apostles, under the guise that he was an equal to them in a way. However, many online users feel that this is definitely the worst use for AI.
One highly upvoted commenter points out that internet algorithmic content is a “positive feedback loop that drives people to madness,” regardless of the message. “This is absolutely unhinged. I mean that in the most literal sense possible. This is so far removed from reality,” they exclaim. Misinformation and inappropriate content on the internet have been around since social media’s inception, but AI becoming mainstream has certainly taken the “unhinged” to a new level of unbelief. Of course, the user is responsible for what they post, but Redditors point out how it’s the companies’ sinister algorithm that has put people in echo chambers, giving them only what they want to see, “without caring about the large scale damage this will do.”
“New tech used to be exciting. Now it’s disturbing,” remarked a commenter. “People took Blade Runner and Westworld as a blueprint instead of Star Trek,” added another, referring to how dystopian things have become in today’s age. On top of all the non-stop negativity the news has been since the country’s latest inauguration, seeing a dead right-wing American activist talking with Apostles makes it hard to know what is going on anymore. “This is disgusting. Why are they doing this?” reacts a user to the AI video.
Many point out how this isn’t about Charlie Kirk or propaganda anymore; it’s just plain creepy and disrespectful. “I’m an atheist, and even I find this to be uncomfortably blasphemous, somehow. And that shouldnt even be possible!” exclaims a commenter. “People using AI to make videos of dead people is so incredibly unsettling,” chimes in another. Truly, this AI TikTok video makes it feel like we are living in a Black Mirror episode, and that’s not very reassuring on top of everything else going on in the country.
