Arizona road rage victim speaks to killer through artificial intelligence


The state asked for a 9.5-year sentence, and the judge ended up giving Horcasitas 10.5 years for manslaughter, after being so moved by the powerful video, family says. The judge even referred to the video in his closing sentencing statements.

"I love that AI. Thank you for that. I felt like that was genuine; that his obvious forgiveness of Mr. Horcasitas reflects the character I heard about today."



The process to bring Chris back, though painstaking, from a technological standpoint.

"There's no tool out there that you can just go and say, here's a voice file. Here's a picture. Please make it come to life. And this is what I wanted to say. So they're scrounging and using this tool and that tool and this tool and this script and this audio and this image and trying to mash it all together and make a Frankenstein of love," said Stacey.

And deciding what the real Chris would say.

"I have my own thoughts and feelings about how much time I want the sentence to be. If I forgave the shooter or not. I have very definitive opinions about that," said Stacey. "But it was important not to make Chris say what I was feeling and to detach and let him speak because he said things that would never come out of my mouth, but I know would come out his."


Next up, rules of evidence

US judicial panel advances proposal to regulate AI-generated evidence