Thread by @DrewCoffman

So we all saw the Robert Kardashian hologram, right? It’s the same tech that brought Tupac to Coachella! It’s so similar, in fact, that Kanye is now being SUED by the company who made it! That company, Holograms USA, is WILD. Thread! 🧵

Let’s start off by talking about the tech behind the hologram. It’s pretty simple! The technique (known as Pepper’s Ghost) works by projecting an image onto a transparent screen. If you walk too far to the left or right it stops working, but it’s convincing from the audience!

The Robert Kardashian hologram is almost certainly a combo of a body double + CGI face + voice impersonator or trained AI. It works really well! It’s similar to the (sadly creepy) Joaquin Oliver video which was making the rounds earlier this month.

So, why is Kanye being sued? Well it’s because ‘Holograms USA’ believes they hold exclusive rights to making holograms, and they apparently go after people all the time. Rudely, they even call the Kardashian hologram kind of trash? Bold!

Holograms USA has been around for awhile now, and they are crazy. In fact, I don’t even really need to convince you. Just watch this video from their Instagram:

A major issue that Holograms USA has run into is, um, not making sure they have the rights to the dead artists they’re resurrecting?? Also there may be some fraud. Bummer.

A lot of Hologram USA’s issues stem from the founder, a guy named Alki David. Not only does he have some loose business morals, but he’s been accused of sexual harassment on NUMEROUS occasions. He also pretty clearly has a temper problem!

David, the ‘heir to a Coca-Cola bottling fortune’, bought his way in, snapped up patents, and now sues competitors. It sucks!

As this tech becomes widespread the people in charge of these (potentially scary!) ventures need to be the right ones. As of now, that’s not the case.

Found another video of Hologram USA founder Alki David that’s too wild not to share