An AI video showing Pope Francis meeting several celebrities and icons including the Queen, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson and Stephen Hawking has caused fury online
Several people have reacted with fury over a “creepy” AI created video of Pope Francis meeting various icons including the Queen, Princess Diana and Pele in the afterlife.
The late pontiff died on Easter Monday and was laid to rest in front of hundreds of thousands of people, including world leaders such as Prince William and Donald Trump, on Saturday. In the wake of his death a person used artificial intelligence to show the late pope seemingly in the afterlife, where he meets with several icons who have died in previous years. Although some people described the footage as “heartwarming”, many others described it as “creepy” and even blasphemous.
Titled ‘Pope Francis meeting old friends’, in the video he is seen embracing the Queen with basketballer Kobe Bryant and Hand of God footballer Maradona, as well as Princess Diana, Amy Winehouse, Pele, Robin Williams, Paul Walker, Stephen Hawking, Michael Jackson and Pope John Paul II. Many of them are seen smiling widely and enjoying an embrace.
Several people felt ill at ease watching the video. One person said: “AI needs to be regulated and monitored closely, or we might be heading between the devil and the deep blue sea.”
Another added: “This is one of the most sickening and horrendous things I’ve ever seen. How dare you desecrate the Pope’s memory like this.”
A third said: “It’s not to judge but sometimes we would like things to be that way but unfortunately that’s not the case.” Another noted: “This is so gross, and I’m sure many of these people would be disgusted by this.”
While a fifth said: “This is not cute, but creepy, why would he be old friends with people he never met like Kobe or Paul Walker? Wouldn’t he rather be with his family?”
Other people enjoyed the AI created clip, with one saying: “Whoever did this video it is absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing, in a way it gives you some hope and hopefully this is also very true thank you.” Another added: “I cannot wait for my turn to go to heaven and see Jesus and all famous people and my mum and my grandparents.”
It comes as Donald Trump revealed who he would like to be named as the new Pope. The president told reporters outside the White House who he believed should step up to lead the world’s estimated 1.4 billion Catholics following the death of Pope Francis last week.
In typical fashion, Trump initially opted not to pick from the current frontrunners and instead named himself as the late pontiff’s possible successor. Trump said: “As Pope? I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.”