The battle over Scott Adams' AI afterlife (www.businessinsider.com)

The family of Scott Adams, the creator of "Dilbert," has publicly opposed the emergence of an unauthorized AI version of him that began posting content online shortly after his death. Despite Adams having previously expressed a willingness for a digital afterlife, his family contends that the AI-generated account violates his legacy and constitutes a deeply distressing misrepresentation. Scholars suggest that this dispute over the AI replica raises significant legal and ethical issues regarding the rights to a person's likeness after death, particularly highlighting the tension between First Amendment rights and the right of publicity, which protects individuals from unauthorized commercial exploitation of their identity. This case illustrates the complexities surrounding “AI afterlives” as technology advances faster than legal frameworks can adapt. Experts argue that the lack of clear regulations on posthumous representations complicates the situation, especially given that some jurisdictions have started requiring consent from estates before creating digital replicas. As such, the conflict over the AI version of Adams serves as a cautionary tale for both creators and their families about the implications of their digital identities and the ownership rights that extend beyond death. As the capacity to produce realistic digital imitations grows, this case may signal the need for a more comprehensive approach to regulating AI representations of deceased individuals.