In a world where technology keeps pushing boundaries, an Amazon-backed AI startup called Fable is about to do something that might make film nerds and cinephiles collectively cringe.

They’re planning to resurrect 43 lost minutes of Orson Welles’ classic film “The Magnificent Ambersons” using artificial intelligence - without even asking permission from Welles’ estate. Talk about tech audacity!

The AI Resurrection Project

Fable’s ambitious plan involves using an AI model to recreate lost footage from a film that was brutally edited by studio executives back in 1942. Filmmaker Brian Rose, who’s already spent five years digitally reconstructing Welles’ vision, wants to use this technology to essentially generate a “what could have been” version of the movie.

The Estate’s Reaction

Unsurprisingly, Welles’ estate is less than thrilled. David Reeder, who manages the estate, called the project a “purely mechanical exercise” that lacks the innovative genius of Welles himself. The real kicker? Fable didn’t even have the courtesy to give the estate a heads up about their plan.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about one lost film. It’s about the broader ethical questions surrounding AI’s role in creative industries. Can an algorithm truly recreate the nuanced artistry of a legendary filmmaker? Spoiler alert: Probably not.

While Rose might be motivated by a genuine desire to honor Welles’ vision, the result will inevitably be a Frankenstein’s monster of cinema - a digital approximation that lacks the soul of the original.