“To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me: it is a shame we encountered each other that day,” the digital Pelkey said. “In another life, we probably could have been friends.”
In a groundbreaking courtroom moment, an Arizona man killed in a 2021 road rage incident addressed his killer Monday through a lifelike AI video.
Christopher Pelkey, shot by Gabriel Horcasitas during a traffic dispute in Chandler, appeared in court via an AI-generated simulacrum created by his family.
“To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me: it is a shame we encountered each other that day,” the digital Pelkey said. “In another life, we probably could have been friends.”
Judge Todd Lang, visibly moved, sentenced Horcasitas to 10.5 years — one year more than prosecutors requested. “I love that AI,” the judge remarked.
Pelkey’s sister, Stacey Wales, wrote the script voiced by the AI, saying, “I had to let him speak.” The simulation included an aged image of Pelkey, saying, “Getting old is a gift not everybody has.”
Arizona’s Chief Justice Ann Timmer praised AI’s potential but warned of its risks, announcing a committee to explore its courtroom use.