Chris Pelkey ​​was killed in a road shooting in Arizona three years ago.

But with the help of artificial intelligence, he returned earlier this month in the killer's sentencing to make his own statements about the victim.

Family members said they used emerging technology to get Mr. Pelkey ​​to talk about events throughout his life in his words.

While some experts believe that the unique use of AI is just another step in the future, others say it could be a slippery slope to use the technology in legal cases.

His sister Stacey Wales told the BBC that his family used recordings, videos and pictures of Pelkey, 37, who was 37, who was recreated on the video tape.

Ms. Wales said she wrote a sentence that the AI ​​version was read in court based on her tolerance for her brother.

“For Gabriel Horcasitas, the shame we had with each other that day was a shame,” said Mr. Pelkey, the AI ​​version of the AI, in court. “In another life, we may be friends.”

"I believe in forgiveness, a forgiveness God. I have it all the time, and I will still do it," continued Mr. Perki's AI Verison (who wears a grey baseball cap).

The technology was used in the sentencing of his killer - Horcasitas has been sentenced by a jury - Horcasitas shot at a red light in Arizona about four years later.

Arizona Judge Todd Lang, who oversees the case, appears to appreciate the use of AI at the hearing. He was sentenced to 10 and half a year in prison for manslaughter.

"I love AI, thank you. Being angry like you, being angry like family, I heard forgiveness." "I think that's true."

Retired federal judge and Duke Law professor Paul Grimm told the BBC that he was not surprised to use AI in the horcasitas judgment.

He noted that Arizona courts have begun using AI in other ways. For example, when the state’s Supreme Court issued its rulings, it had an AI system that made these rulings easy for people to digest.

Mr Green said that because it was used without a jury attendance, it was only for the judge to decide on sentencing, so the technology was allowed.

"We will lean on the case by case (AI), but the technology is irresistible," he said.

But some experts, including Derek Leben, a professor of business ethics at Carnegie Mellon University, are concerned about using AI and precedents in the case.

Although Mr Leben does not question the family’s intentions or actions, he fears that all uses of AI will be consistent with the victim’s wishes.

“If we had someone else moving forward, would we always be loyal to that person, what would the victim want in this case?” Mr Leben asked.

However, for Ms. Wales, it gave her brother the last word.

"We use morality and ethics to solve this problem because it's a powerful tool. Just like you can break windows with a hammer or tear off a wall, it can also be used as a tool for building a house, and that's how we use this technology."