Robin Williams’s children have decided to bring back their late father’s inactive Instagram account due to the proliferation of unauthorized AI versions of him. The renowned actor passed away on August 11, 2014, at 63, with an autopsy revealing he had Lewy body dementia.
Zak, Zelda, and Cody Williams made a post on Monday, marking the first activity on the “therobinwilliams” Instagram account since July 31, 2014. They expressed their intention to maintain the account as a trusted platform where genuine stories, photos, videos, and memories reflect their father’s legacy with authenticity and warmth.
The trio aims to share their father’s exceptional talent and humor worldwide, reminiscing about the moments that brought joy to them and countless others. Robin Williams had a successful career spanning movies, television, and theater, gaining fame from the sitcom “Mork & Mindy” (1978-82) and starring in iconic films like “Good Morning Vietnam” (1987) and “Dead Poets Society” (1989).
His accolades include an Academy Award for best supporting actor in “Good Will Hunting” (1997) and a special achievement Golden Globe Award for voicing Genie in “Aladdin” (1992). The rise of AI-generated videos featuring Williams in various scenarios, created using OpenAI’s Sora app, prompted concerns.
OpenAI discontinued Sora in March after facing backlash for generating controversial videos of public figures like Michael Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr. Zelda Williams, an actor and director, has vehemently opposed AI recreations of her father, urging fans to stop sharing such content.
In a recent Instagram story, she explained that reviving her father’s Instagram account is a proactive step against AI misuse. Despite some expressing interest in using AI to replicate Williams’s voice, actor Matthew Lawrence, who worked with him in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” stressed the importance of obtaining the family’s consent for any such project.
Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., has also spoken out against the unauthorized use of her father’s likeness in AI applications. Meanwhile, an AI version of late actor Val Kilmer will feature in an upcoming film titled “As Deep As the Grave,” with his estate’s approval and compensation.
The move to reactivate Robin Williams’s Instagram account not only honors his memory but also serves as a means to combat the misuse of AI technology related to his image and voice.