Brandon Blankenship

So back in 2021, a man named Christopher Pelkey was shot and killed in a road rage incident. His case initially went to court in 2023, but it had to be retried because of some procedural issues. And it's why it took until this month for the man who shot him to face sentencing.

So back in 2021, a man named Christopher Pelkey was shot and killed in a road rage incident. His case initially went to court in 2023, but it had to be retried because of some procedural issues. And it's why it took until this month for the man who shot him to face sentencing.

So back in 2021, a man named Christopher Pelkey was shot and killed in a road rage incident. His case initially went to court in 2023, but it had to be retried because of some procedural issues. And it's why it took until this month for the man who shot him to face sentencing.

And during this whole time, Christopher's sister, Stacey Wales, had been mulling over what she would say in her victim impact statement, which is a chance for loved ones to talk about their grief before the judge hands down a sentence.

And during this whole time, Christopher's sister, Stacey Wales, had been mulling over what she would say in her victim impact statement, which is a chance for loved ones to talk about their grief before the judge hands down a sentence.

And during this whole time, Christopher's sister, Stacey Wales, had been mulling over what she would say in her victim impact statement, which is a chance for loved ones to talk about their grief before the judge hands down a sentence.

She told me that while she was at a loss for words, it was clear what her brother would say. So she asked her husband and their business partner, both of whom have experience using AI, to help. Her plea was this.

She told me that while she was at a loss for words, it was clear what her brother would say. So she asked her husband and their business partner, both of whom have experience using AI, to help. Her plea was this.

She told me that while she was at a loss for words, it was clear what her brother would say. So she asked her husband and their business partner, both of whom have experience using AI, to help. Her plea was this.

They only had a few days and had to source a bunch of different AI tools. But in the end, they actually pulled it off. And the message that Stacey really wanted the judge and her brother's killer to hear, it was all about forgiveness.

They only had a few days and had to source a bunch of different AI tools. But in the end, they actually pulled it off. And the message that Stacey really wanted the judge and her brother's killer to hear, it was all about forgiveness.

They only had a few days and had to source a bunch of different AI tools. But in the end, they actually pulled it off. And the message that Stacey really wanted the judge and her brother's killer to hear, it was all about forgiveness.

Neither the defense nor the judge pushed back, surprisingly. And later in the hearing, Judge Todd Lang said he actually loved the use of AI. He said he usually sticks to last names in court, but after hearing from the family and seeing the video, he felt compelled to call Chris by his first name.

Neither the defense nor the judge pushed back, surprisingly. And later in the hearing, Judge Todd Lang said he actually loved the use of AI. He said he usually sticks to last names in court, but after hearing from the family and seeing the video, he felt compelled to call Chris by his first name.

Neither the defense nor the judge pushed back, surprisingly. And later in the hearing, Judge Todd Lang said he actually loved the use of AI. He said he usually sticks to last names in court, but after hearing from the family and seeing the video, he felt compelled to call Chris by his first name.

And what really stood out to the judge was that, you know, the family themselves were asking for the maximum sentence, but the AI rendering of Chris didn't talk about punishment. And in the end, the judge actually gave the maximum sentence...

And what really stood out to the judge was that, you know, the family themselves were asking for the maximum sentence, but the AI rendering of Chris didn't talk about punishment. And in the end, the judge actually gave the maximum sentence...

And what really stood out to the judge was that, you know, the family themselves were asking for the maximum sentence, but the AI rendering of Chris didn't talk about punishment. And in the end, the judge actually gave the maximum sentence...

The story makes me reflect a lot on mortality and AI's role in possibly changing kind of what it means to grieve and remember.

The story makes me reflect a lot on mortality and AI's role in possibly changing kind of what it means to grieve and remember.