An AI-replicated Sir Michael Parkinson is set to host a new podcast, featuring a series of completely unscripted interviews with celebrities.
Virtually Parkinson is a world-first podcast according to its producers, Deep Fusion Films, and has been made with the support and involvement of Parkinson’s family and estate.
Known for his interviews with the world’s biggest stars, Parkinson died last year aged 88, following a brief illness.
The eight-part show will use AI technology to synthetically recreate the late presenter’s voice and interview style, drawing from a back catalogue of over 2,000 of his interviews.
The system – dubbed “Squark” – uses AI tools to allow live humans to speak with voices from the past.
Calling it “a tribute to my Dad,” Parkinson’s son, Mike Parkinson, reached out to the company with the idea of creating the podcast, as a way to preserve his father’s legacy.
He said: “I want audiences to marvel at the technology, the cleverness and cheekiness of the concept, but mostly I want them to remember just how good he was at interviewing and enjoy the nostalgia and happy memories.
“Through this platform, his legacy can continue, entertaining a new generation of fans.”
Deep Fusion Films co-founder Jamie Anderson said watching Parkinson’s son’s reaction to hearing his late father’s voice was “something really special,” adding that those who had listened to the AI replication had been “wowed” by its accuracy and warmth.
The company has expanded to create the project, hiring a new head of creative AI, an AI prompt engineer, researchers, guest bookers, podcast producers, and a sound engineer.
AI ethics in the spotlight
Concerns over the growing use of AI in the industry partly inspired last year’s US strike by actors and writers, which brought Hollywood to a virtual standstill.
In 2022, the UK acting union Equity launched a campaign called Stop AI Stealing The Show.
Performers have found their jobs particularly vulnerable to new technology, putting both their livelihoods and reputations at risk, in the case of deepfakes mistaken by the public as the real thing.
Touching on the ethics of the project, Deep Fusion Films says it is “openly showcasing the AI aspect,” and will signpost that the podcast is hosted by AI at the start.
It will also feature a debrief with the interviewee about what it was like to be interviewed by an AI at the end.
Guests are yet to be confirmed, but are said to be “notable people from a variety of spheres” including film and TV, music, and politics.
Born into a family of miners in Barnsley, Parkinson’s broadcasting career saw him front more than 600 shows and 2,000 interviews, working with the BBC, ITV, and Sky.
He interviewed stars including John Wayne, Fred Astaire, John Lennon, Tom Cruise, Madonna, and the Beckhams, plus a notably prickly interview with Hollywood star Meg Ryan.
Virtually Parkinson will be released on the official Michael Parkinson YouTube channel later this year, alongside a curated collection of archival footage.