An AI version is a beloved British broadcaster, who died last year, doing an 'autonomous podcast series

Sir Michael Parkinson is a broadcaster, interviewer and best known for his Parkinson chat show on BBC. The show began in 1971 and ended in 2007. Sir Michael Parkinson was a broadcaster and interviewer best known for presenting Parkinson, a BBC chat show that began in 1971 and had its final episode in 2007.

With the support of Parkinson's estate and family, a new podcast will use AI to recreate Michael Parkinson’s voice and interview different guests. Virtually Parkinson, produced by Deep Fusion Films and running for eight episodes initially, is backed by the estate and family of the late broadcaster.

Mike Parkinson, a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today program, said: "[I] wanted to make it clear [to listeners] that it was an AI version," adding that Deep Fusion cocreators Ben Field, and Jamie Anderson, "are 100% very ethical" in their approach. They are also "very aware of the legal issues and ethical issues and will not try and pass this off as "real".

I mean, this should be the minimum expectation and not something to celebrate. Mike Parkinson said he had discussed doing a Podcast with his father before he passed away, which led him to contact Deep Fusion. He says "it's incredible what they've accomplished" with AI Michael Parkinson, "because I didn’t really think it would be as accurate as it is," adding that his father, a "technophobe", "would have loved" it.

This is all fine, but it does not answer the question as to how Parkinson senior felt about this. It's also a more complicated question as to whether anyone wants this. Michael Parkinson was an excellent interviewer, not because of his voice but because of the personality he had. He was able to put guests at ease, and knew when to ask a challenging question or how to frame it. I can easily believe that an AI could mimic some of his speaking patterns, but I doubt it would capture any of the man's qualities.

The podcast comes as AI is increasingly being used in mainstream media. Last week, a Polish radio station used AIs to interview Wislawa, the ghost of the dead Nobel-winner Wislawa, with three quirky zoomers who didn't exist. People were shocked, not pleased.

Jamie Anderson says that "AI Michael is not a replacement for a presenter. It is a podcast where Sir Michael’s legacy has been continued." "So, it's not a presenter losing their job." Anderson, however, claims that these are "brand new interviews." We let [the AI] start the interview, and then AI Sir Michael takes over, trained to Sir Michael's style of interviewing and his interview questions. We cannot reveal the names of our guests just yet. There are still a few spots available, but these people are noteworthy.

Hm. It will be interesting to see the standard of guests that are invited, as the Parkinson show used to attract A-list talent. And if this AI Parkinson conducts an interview with a celebrity, then contrary to Anderson's claim, that interview could have been conducted humanly.

I don't think anyone sane wants that. Michael Parkinson had an impressive, long-lasting career. Do we want a computerized version of him to continue his work after his death?

Mike Parkinson counters that "it is a wonderful way to extend the life of someone unique and an outlier of his generation."

I can't stop wondering who these products are even meant for. Parkinson's arrival coincides with a time in which entertainers are unionising to fight AI in different entertainment industries. Three months ago, SAG-AFTRA (a union that represents over 160,000 actors) declared a strike because of the language and terms used regarding AI. The Writer's Guild of America won a major victory last year.

But this particular genie can't be put back in the bottle. Sir Michael Parkinson said that he "fought off tears" when the curtain closed on the last show bearing his name. Would that it had stayed like that.