May 8, 2025

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AI Used in Court, Meta Faces Backlash, AI Adoption Grows

A series of recent news articles have highlighted the growing use and impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various aspects of life. In a groundbreaking case, an AI-generated video of a road rage victim, Christopher Pelkey, was played in court during the sentencing of his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas, marking a first in Arizona judicial history and possibly the nation. The use of AI in this case was seen as a powerful tool for allowing the victim's family to express their feelings and bring closure to the case. Meanwhile, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing backlash over its plans to use user data for training its AI systems, with consumer advocates arguing that this violates European data protection laws. In other news, entrepreneurs are using AI to scale their expertise and provide personalized advice to their audiences, while small businesses are harnessing the power of AI to improve efficiency and productivity. The City of Atlanta has established an Artificial Intelligence Commission to explore how AI can enhance city operations and improve service delivery, and over 250 CEOs have signed an open letter urging that AI and computer science courses become part of high school class requirements. Additionally, the AI for sales and marketing market is expected to grow significantly, and companies like CrowdStrike are leveraging AI to streamline their operations, although this has also led to layoffs in some cases.

Key Takeaways

  • An AI-generated video of a road rage victim, Christopher Pelkey, was played in court during the sentencing of his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas.
  • Meta is facing backlash over its plans to use user data for training its AI systems, with consumer advocates arguing that this violates European data protection laws.
  • Entrepreneurs are using AI to scale their expertise and provide personalized advice to their audiences.
  • Small businesses are harnessing the power of AI to improve efficiency and productivity.
  • The City of Atlanta has established an Artificial Intelligence Commission to explore how AI can enhance city operations and improve service delivery.
  • Over 250 CEOs have signed an open letter urging that AI and computer science courses become part of high school class requirements.
  • The AI for sales and marketing market is expected to grow significantly, from $57.99 billion in 2025 to $240.58 billion by 2030.
  • CrowdStrike has announced layoffs due to advances in artificial intelligence, which has streamlined its hiring curve and improved innovation.
  • AI can be used to generate case studies for the classroom and help with proofreading, rewriting, summarizing, and composing text.
  • AI writing tools can be used on smartphones and can save time and effort.

AI speaks for slain man

Christopher Pelkey, a man killed in a road-rage incident, appeared in court through an AI-generated video to address his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas. The video, created by Pelkey's family, was a first in Arizona judicial history and possibly the nation. Pelkey's sister, Stacey Wales, wrote the words for the video based on her brother's forgiving nature. The judge, Todd Lang, was moved by the video and praised its genuineness. Horcasitas was sentenced to 10 and a half years for manslaughter.

AI helps road rage victim

An AI-generated video of Christopher Pelkey, a road rage victim, was played in court during the sentencing of his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas. The video was created by Pelkey's sister, Stacey Wales, and her husband using AI technology. The AI version of Pelkey forgave Horcasitas and said they could have been friends in another life. The judge, Todd Lang, appreciated the video and sentenced Horcasitas to 10 and a half years for manslaughter. The use of AI in the trial was a first in Arizona and possibly the nation.

Family uses AI for victim statement

Christopher Pelkey's family used AI to recreate his likeness and voice for a victim impact statement during the sentencing of his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas. The AI-generated video featured Pelkey forgiving Horcasitas and expressing his belief in God's forgiveness. The judge, Todd Lang, praised the video and sentenced Horcasitas to more than a decade for manslaughter. The use of AI in the trial was a first in Arizona judicial history.

AI brings slain man to court

A digital version of Christopher Pelkey, a murder victim, was brought to court through AI technology to address his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas. The AI-generated video featured Pelkey forgiving Horcasitas and expressing his belief in God's forgiveness. The judge, Todd Lang, was moved by the video and sentenced Horcasitas to 10 and a half years for manslaughter. The use of AI in the trial was a first in Arizona judicial history and possibly the nation.

AI speaks for deceased man

An AI version of Christopher Pelkey, a man killed in a road rage incident, addressed his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas, in court. The AI-generated video featured Pelkey forgiving Horcasitas and expressing his belief in God's forgiveness. The judge, Todd Lang, praised the video and sentenced Horcasitas to 10 and a half years for manslaughter. The use of AI in the trial was a first in Arizona and possibly the nation.

AI helps victim's family

Christopher Pelkey's family used AI to recreate his image and voice for a victim impact statement during the sentencing of his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas. The AI-generated video featured Pelkey forgiving Horcasitas and expressing his belief in God's forgiveness. The judge, Todd Lang, was moved by the video and sentenced Horcasitas to 10 and a half years for manslaughter. The use of AI in the trial was a first in Arizona judicial history and possibly the nation.

Judge moved by AI video

A judge was moved by an AI-generated video of Christopher Pelkey, a man killed in a road rage incident, during the sentencing of his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas. The video featured Pelkey forgiving Horcasitas and expressing his belief in God's forgiveness. The judge, Todd Lang, praised the video and sentenced Horcasitas to 10 and a half years for manslaughter. The use of AI in the trial was a first in Arizona and possibly the nation.

AI version of victim speaks

An AI version of Christopher Pelkey, a man killed in a road rage incident, addressed his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas, in court. The AI-generated video featured Pelkey forgiving Horcasitas and expressing his belief in God's forgiveness. The judge, Todd Lang, praised the video and sentenced Horcasitas to 10 and a half years for manslaughter. The use of AI in the trial was a first in Arizona judicial history and possibly the nation.

Meta faces backlash over AI plans

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing backlash over its plans to use user data for training its AI systems. The company has announced that it will use user data from its platforms starting May 27, 2025, but consumer advocates argue that this violates European data protection laws. Meta claims that the training is essential for improving its AI products, but critics say that users should not have to agree to their personal data being used for AI training without explicit consent.

Consumer advocates challenge Meta

Consumer advocates are challenging Meta over its plans to use user data for training its AI systems. The company has announced that it will use user data from its platforms starting May 27, 2025, but critics argue that this violates European data protection laws. Meta claims that the training is essential for improving its AI products, but consumer advocates say that users should not have to agree to their personal data being used for AI training without explicit consent.

Founder launches AI clone

Tyler Denk, the founder of beehiiv, has launched an AI clone of himself. The clone, named DenkBot, can converse via text and speech and has been trained on Denk's writing, social media posts, and podcast interviews. DenkBot is available for free to subscribers of Denk's personal newsletter, Big Desk Energy. The AI clone is part of a growing trend of entrepreneurs using AI to scale their expertise and provide personalized advice to their audiences.

Using AI for case studies

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to generate case studies for the classroom. AI can create realistic and relevant case studies that allow students to learn and practice problem-solving skills. To use AI effectively, educators should provide detailed prompts and review the output to ensure it aligns with the course topics and learning outcomes. AI can also help generate grading rubrics and answer sheets, making it easier to assess student learning.

Using AI writing tools

Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tools can help with proofreading, rewriting, summarizing, and composing text. These tools can be used on smartphones and can save time and effort. To get started, users can experiment with free offerings from Apple and Google. AI writing tools can be used for various tasks, such as generating social media posts, email newsletters, and product descriptions.

Small businesses and AI

Small businesses can harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to win big. AI can help with customer service, content creation, analytics, and forecasting. It can also help with hiring and HR, inventory management, and personalization. To get started, small businesses can identify areas where they can use AI to improve efficiency and productivity. AI can help small businesses level the playing field and stay competitive.

AI for sales and marketing

The AI for sales and marketing market is expected to grow significantly, with a projected increase from $57.99 billion in 2025 to $240.58 billion by 2030. The market is driven by the demand for automation, personalized customer engagement, and data-driven insights. However, challenges such as high implementation costs, data privacy issues, and integration problems with legacy systems pose barriers to adoption. The Asia Pacific region is expected to experience the fastest growth in the AI for sales and marketing sector.

Atlanta's AI commission

The City of Atlanta has established an Artificial Intelligence Commission to explore how AI can enhance city operations and improve service delivery. The commission will provide guidance on the responsible and effective integration of AI into city services. The first meeting of the commission will be held on May 7, and it will include a mix of city leaders, academics, and technology experts.

CEOs push for AI training

Over 250 CEOs have signed an open letter urging that artificial intelligence and computer science courses become part of high school class requirements. The letter argues that including computer science and AI in high school education can help close wage gaps, unlock economic potential, and address the skills gap. The CEOs believe that AI training is essential for the future workforce and that it should start in high school.

CrowdStrike announces layoffs

CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity software maker, has announced that it will lay off 500 employees, representing about 5% of its workforce. The company attributes the layoffs to advances in artificial intelligence, which has streamlined its hiring curve and improved innovation. Despite the layoffs, CrowdStrike expects to continue hiring in key strategic areas and reaffirmed its forecast for the current fiscal year.

Sources

AI-generated video Artificial Intelligence Road rage incident Victim impact statement Court proceedings AI training