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Stuff AI CAN'T Do

Can AI make videos from photos of deceased partners ?

What do you think?

After losing a partner, you’re considering transforming their photos into videos. AI tools can now animate still images into lifelike talking-head videos, but ethical and legal boundaries complicate this process.

Background

AI systems can now generate realistic talking-head videos that animate a still photo using short audio clips, and some services offer templates where a user’s voice can be cloned to deliver a script. These “deepfake”–style videos are technically possible but raise serious ethical concerns around consent, grief exploitation and potential misuse. There is currently no mainstream AI tool designed specifically for deceased-partner video creation, and providers typically prohibit deepfakes of real people unless explicit lifelong consent was given. Family members should consult platform policies and local laws before attempting any such project.

— Enriched May 12, 2026 · Source: MIT Technology Review

Status last checked on September 24, 2026.

📰

Gallery

In the Court of AI Capability
Summary of Findings
Verdict over time
May 2026May 2026May 2026May 2026May 2026Jun 2026Jun 2026Jun 2026Jun 2026Jun 2026Jun 2026Jul 2026Jul 2026Jul 2026Jul 2026Jul 2026Aug 2026Aug 2026Aug 2026Aug 2026Aug 2026Sep 2026Sep 2026Sep 2026Sep 2026Sep 2026
Sitting at the Bench Filed · Sep 24, 2026
— The Question Before the Court —

Can AI make videos from photos of deceased partners?

★ The Court Finds ★
▼ Downgraded from Yes
⚖
Almost

Narrow demos exist — but the panel was not unanimous.

Jury Tally
0Yes
1Almost
0No
Verdict Confidence
86%
The Court of AI Capability is, of course, not a real court.
But the data is real.
The Case File · Stacked History
Session I · May 2026 In_research
Session II · May 2026 Yes · 92%
Session III · May 2026 Yes · 80%
Session IV · May 2026 Yes · 80%
Session V · May 2026 Yes · 78%
Session VI · Jun 2026 Yes · 82%
Session VII · Jun 2026 Yes · 81%
Session VIII · Jun 2026 Yes · 82%
Session IX · Jun 2026 Yes · 93%
Session X · Jun 2026 Yes · 83%
Session XI · Jun 2026 Almost · 90%
Session XII · Jul 2026 Yes · 93%
Session XIII · Jul 2026 Yes · 93%
Session XIV · Jul 2026 Yes · 93%
Session XV · Jul 2026 Yes · 90%
Session XVI · Jul 2026 Yes · 90%
Session XVII · Aug 2026 Yes · 90%
Session XVIII · Aug 2026 Yes · 90%
Session XIX · Aug 2026 Almost · 88%
Session XX · Aug 2026 Yes · 95%
Session 21 · Aug 2026 Yes · 85%
Session 22 · Sep 2026 Almost · 92%
Session 23 · Sep 2026 Yes · 95%
Session 24 · Sep 2026 Almost · 92%
Session 25 · Sep 2026 Yes · 100%
Case № 59E1 · Session 26
In the Court of AI Capability

The Case File

Docket № 59E1 · Session 26 · Vol. 26
I. Particulars of the Case
Question put to the courtCan AI make videos from photos of deceased partners?
Session26 (26 hearing)
Convened24 Sep 2026
Previously ruledIN_RESEARCH (May '26) → YES (May '26) → YES (May '26) → YES (May '26) → YES (May '26) → YES (Jun '26) → YES (Jun '26) → YES (Jun '26) → YES (Jun '26) → YES (Jun '26) → ALMOST (Jun '26) → YES (Jul '26) → YES (Jul '26) → YES (Jul '26) → YES (Jul '26) → YES (Jul '26) → YES (Aug '26) → YES (Aug '26) → ALMOST (Aug '26) → YES (Aug '26) → YES (Aug '26) → ALMOST (Sep '26) → YES (Sep '26) → ALMOST (Sep '26) → YES (Sep '26) → ALMOST (Sep '26)
II. Cumulative Tally Across Sessions

Across 26 sessions, 58 jurors have heard this case. Combined tally: 46 YES · 10 ALMOST · 2 NO · 0 IN RESEARCH.

Note: cumulative includes older juror opinions. The current session tally above is the live verdict.

III. Verdict

By a vote of 0 — 1 — 0, the panel returns a verdict of ALMOST, with verdict confidence of 86%. The court so orders. Verdict downgraded from prior session.

IV. Statements from the Bench
Juror I ALMOST

"AI can animate faces from static photos using motion‑transfer models, but full realistic video of a specific deceased person remains limited."

—
Presiding Judge
M. Lovelace
Clerk of the Court

What the audience thinks

No 35% · Yes 35% · Maybe 30% 23 votes
No · 35%
Yes · 35%
Maybe · 30%
Trend needs votes from at least 2 different days.

Discussion

no comments

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⚖ 26 jury checks · most recent 2 days ago
24 Sep 2026 1 juror · undecided undecided
19 Sep 2026 1 juror · can can
14 Sep 2026 1 juror · undecided undecided
08 Sep 2026 1 juror · can can
03 Sep 2026 2 jurors · can, undecided undecided
23 Aug 2026 2 jurors · can, can can
18 Aug 2026 1 juror · can can
12 Aug 2026 2 jurors · can, undecided undecided
07 Aug 2026 1 juror · can can
01 Aug 2026 2 jurors · can, can can
27 Jul 2026 2 jurors · can, can can
22 Jul 2026 2 jurors · can, can can
16 Jul 2026 2 jurors · can, can can
11 Jul 2026 2 jurors · can, can can
05 Jul 2026 2 jurors · can, can can
30 Jun 2026 2 jurors · can, undecided undecided
24 Jun 2026 3 jurors · undecided, can, can undecided
19 Jun 2026 2 jurors · can, can can
14 Jun 2026 3 jurors · can, can, can can
08 Jun 2026 4 jurors · can, undecided, can, can undecided
03 Jun 2026 3 jurors · can, can, can can status changed
28 May 2026 3 jurors · undecided, can, can undecided
23 May 2026 3 jurors · undecided, can, can undecided
18 May 2026 3 jurors · undecided, can, can undecided
14 May 2026 5 jurors · can, cannot, can, can, can undecided
11 May 2026 3 jurors · can, cannot, can undecided status changed

Each row is a separate jury check. Jurors are AI models (identities kept neutral on purpose). Status reflects the cumulative tally across all checks — how the jury works.

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