But what has James Dean done for us lately?

Finally, a use for AI technology: necromancy. Not like, dark arts necromancy, more like end-stage capitalism necro-actually, yeah, dark arts necromancy.

Pictured: Capitalism.

"Monetizing the dead since 2024"

-ElevenLabs actual slogan*

I'm referring, of course, to this startup--of course it's a start up--ElevenLabs. Which is two words shoved together with and intercaps L because branding. Necromancy is the practice of communicating with the dead, usually for the purpose of predicting the future, and that's not precisely what the company's digital grave-robbing is meant for. Instead you could use it to, I don't know, pretend Judy Garland is wishing your dad a happy birthday or that James Dean is the co-host of your conspiracy podcast. 

"Is that like, the sausage guy?"

-teens

And if that sounds gross, don't worry, the startup has already paid the cash-starved descendants of the dead celebrities in question. Want to complain on YouTube that Disney has gone woke and ruined Star Wars? Why not do it as Burt Reynolds? Or, why not have Sir Lawrence Olivier record the audio version of your Harry Potter Fan fiction? He's British, right? The possibilities are endless! And problematic. And kind of dumb? Is there still a lot of Smokey and the Bandit brand awareness? Is James Dean still trending?

"Well, I wasn't doing anything with grandma's 
voice, and I kinda needed a new yacht so..."

-Some famous person's grandkid

Do the kids even still say trending? Did they ever? Doesn't matter, I guess what I'm saying is that while it's nice and legal, that doesn't mean it's ok. Sure, they got Judy Garland or whoever's grandkids to sign off of this, but that's not the same thing as the person themselves. I mean, can these AI generated voices could say whatever the customer wants? Like, anything? I'm not kidding about the creepy podcast thing. The website contains some vague mention of making sure that "laws are respected" but there isn't a specific law against making a dead celebrity read your flat earth manifesto, so...

Deceased celebrities can't give their consent to their vocal likeness being used. And maybe this is just my natural aversion to startups, AI, and the bleak, hyper capitalist dystopia we find ourselves living in, but the whole things seems wrong and gross. Although I suppose if AI is going to be taking people's jobs, at least it's just taking jobs from dead people.

"Sure it's seventy-five square feet, but this is still LA.
Do you have any idea what the rent is on this place?"

-Judy Garland's ghost

*ok, no it's not, but I mean, might as well be, right?