Two projects in Brazil use artificial intelligence to recreate the voices of historical figures like Vladimir Herzog and Fábio Penteado, aiming to preserve collective memory. While some see them as an innovative educational tool, others criticize the risk of adulterating historical facts. The experiments, authorized by the families, took place recently in São Paulo and Campinas.
On October 30 and 31, 2025, at the Sesc São Paulo Research and Training Center, visitors and journalists interacted with an LED panel reproducing the voice of Vladimir Herzog (1937-1975), a journalist killed by the military dictatorship. The project, created by Pedro Markun and a counselor of the Vladimir Herzog Institute, uses voice simulation technology similar to that for recreating tones of Elis Regina or Michael Caine, but focused on preserving historical ideas.
From November 1, 2025, to the end of March 2026, the 'Pétalas e Estrelas' exhibition at the Cultural Coexistence Center in Campinas (SP) allows visitors to call and hear the voice of architect Fábio Penteado (1929-2011), responding about his works and concepts. Both IAvatars are based on decades of documentary research, with chronological limits to avoid speculation, and were authorized by the families.
Supporters argue that, unlike malicious deepfakes such as fake ads by Drauzio Varella, these projects promote transparency and education. 'The junction of rigorous documentary bases with voice and tone simulation creates a potent experience,' states the creator, highlighting potential for museums and schools. They compare it to the emotional recreation in films like 'Ainda Estou Aqui,' seen by six million Brazilians, which educated generations about the dictatorship without ethical questions about actors.
Critics, like a journalist and professor at ECA-USP, see risks of inauthenticity. 'Making a dead person speak what they never said in life through artificial intelligence is adulterating events,' warns, citing Paulo Markun and Pedro Markun as creators. He emphasizes that mixing documented facts with fictional locutions, even anchored in reliable sources, can weaken factual verification essential for justice on dictatorship crimes. In an era of disinformation, such artificial voices in educational products demand caution to not cloud public discernment.