BBC Launches AI-Powered Writing Course Featuring Agatha Christie

The BBC, in partnership with Agatha Christie's estate, has launched an AI-powered online writing course on BBC Maestro, allowing aspiring writers to learn directly from the famed mystery author. The course uses restored audio, licensed images, and advanced AI technology to recreate Christie's voice and likeness, with actress Vivien Keene providing the performance that is digitally enhanced to resemble Christie. The curriculum draws on Christie's own words, writings, and interviews, curated by leading academics, offering lessons on story structure, plot twists, and suspense. Christie's great-grandson, James Prichard, emphasized that the project is a respectful tribute, using her original insights and crafted with the estate's full support. While the class has been praised for its authenticity and educational value, it also raises questions about the ethics of using AI to recreate deceased figures. Nonetheless, the initiative is being presented as a unique opportunity for writers and fans to receive guidance from one of history’s most celebrated crime novelists.