In another life we probably could have been friends,” a replica of Pelkey said in the AI-generated video played earlier this month in a Phoenix courtroom.

A simulation of a dead man created by artificial intelligence addressed his killer in an Arizona court this month, in what appears to be one of the first such instances in a U.S. courtroom. Made by his family,

“I love that, AI. Thank you for that,” Judge Lang said to Pelkey’s family in the courtroom after the video was played. “And as angry as you are, and justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness and I know Mr. Horcasitas appreciated it, but so did I.”