Layered Reality, the British immersive entertainment company, has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) in resurrecting the legendary rock and roll icon, Elvis Presley, for live performances.

Titled "Elvis Evolution," the immersive experience will cater to fans of the music icon by employing AI and holographic projections of Elvis. These projections will be crafted using thousands of personal photos and home videos, taking viewers on a virtual journey through Elvis's life -- from his Mississippi hometown and Graceland estate to his iconic Las Vegas performances.

Layered Reality's CEO, Andrew McGuinness, shared in an interview with Reuters that the pinnacle of the experience will be a "live" AI performance by Elvis. The show is set to premiere in London in November, with plans for subsequent performances in cities such as Las Vegas, Berlin, and Tokyo.

Cointelegraph has reached out to Layered Reality for further details on the AI methodology employed in the recreation of Elvis.

This development follows a recent trend where AI has been employed to revive past stars for contemporary performances. In November 2023, Universal Music Group (UMG) utilized AI to release what was dubbed the Beatles’ “last song,” titled “Now and Then,” featuring a reproduced vocal track of John Lennon.

Several musicians, including Grimes, have embraced the use of AI in their work. Grimes, a popular musician and producer, not only endorsed AI music creation but also launched her own open-source software, elf.tech, dedicated to legally replicating her voice with AI for music production.

While AI replication has gained traction in the entertainment industry, it has also sparked debates, as seen in the strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The eventual deal reached outlined guidelines for the creation, use, and alteration of "digital replicas" of performers, addressing concerns about the potential impact on job opportunities and the usage of celebrities' likenesses in the future. (Agencies)