News
AI-powered 'Stan Lee' debuts at L.A. Comic Con
- By John K. Waters
- 09/26/2025
An artificial intelligence-powered likeness of the late comic book creator Stan Lee is greeting fans at Los Angeles Comic Con this week, part of a growing wave of technology that is reshaping entertainment and memorializing cultural icons.
The "Stan Lee Experience," a 1,500-square-foot booth at the Los Angeles Convention Center, features an interactive digital projection of Lee that responds to audience questions. The system draws on decades of archival material, including interviews, public appearances, and "Stan’s Soapbox," a column Lee wrote in Marvel Comics between 1967 and 1980.
Comikaze Entertainment, Proto Inc., and Hyperreal developed the installation. The image is displayed through a Proto projection device, which the company has also used for interactive exhibits based on films such as The Conjuring. Hyperreal, a firm specializing in digital avatars, adapted Lee’s voice and mannerisms from his recorded appearances.
Organizers emphasized that the system differs from general-purpose AI chatbots. It is restricted to material drawn from Lee’s work and public persona, and will not answer questions unrelated to comics or entertainment. Developers stated that the project was designed to highlight Lee’s creative contributions rather than serve as a commercial advertising platform.
The appearance of the AI Lee highlights a broader debate in the entertainment industry over how artificial intelligence should be used to replicate performers. Supporters argue it preserves legacies and makes cultural figures accessible to new audiences, while critics warn of overreach and potential misuse.
About the Author
John K. Waters is the editor in chief of a number of Converge360.com sites, with a focus on high-end development, AI and future tech. He's been writing about cutting-edge technologies and culture of Silicon Valley for more than two decades, and he's written more than a dozen books. He also co-scripted the documentary film Silicon Valley: A 100 Year Renaissance, which aired on PBS. He can be reached at [email protected].