AI Technology Offers Digital Recreations of Deceased Loved Ones

In Seoul, South Korea, Lee Geon Hui sought an unusual gift for his father, who had raised him single-handedly. He turned to an AI-animated video message, creating a digital likeness of his late grandfather. Lee collaborated with Vaice, a tech company based in Seoul, to create a short video featuring the likeness of his grandfather, who addressed his father as his ‘most precious son.’ The grandfather expressed regret over making his son assist with farm work and for opposing his career choice as a hairstylist. Lee shared, ‘My father initially resisted watching the video. But he did eventually, and it moved him to tears. It felt rewarding to convey what I truly wanted to tell my father.’

A growing number of South Koreans are exploring AI’s capabilities to recreate deceased loved ones. South Korea has several startups offering AI-generated videos of family members, and TV shows have featured AI recreations of deceased celebrities. This emerging industry carries both potential benefits and ethical concerns. Some suggest it provides comfort to grieving individuals, while others raise ethical, psychological, and legal questions. Yong Man Ro, an AI expert at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, remarked, ‘This is a double-edged sword addressing emotional needs. As AI technologies integrate into daily life, they may bring unprecedented cultural experiences and challenges.’

Vaice’s CEO, Jeongu Won, reported that his company serves around 300 customers monthly, mainly individuals in their 40s or 50s who seek videos of late parents. Some request videos of late grandparents as gifts for their parents. Won explained that creating a likeness requires a few photos and short voice samples of the deceased. A basic video, lasting three to five minutes, costs around 600,000 won ($390). Many clients play these AI videos during family gatherings or significant Korean holidays, often inserting personal scripts. Common inclusions are ‘I love you’ and references to unresolved conflicts with the deceased.

Lee’s grandfather passed away in a car accident before Lee was born. Lee recalls his father’s regret at not being able to show his grandfather that his career as a hairstylist was thriving and that he had a son. Lee shared, ‘I don’t know much about my grandfather, but witnessing my father’s tears was emotional, realizing how much he still misses him.’

AI grief technology also raises ethical concerns

Choi Yu Ha of JL Standard commented on the societal shift towards AI grief tech. Initially launched five years ago, it received mixed reactions from clients wary of exacerbating their grief. Despite some skepticism, acceptance is growing, often fueled by simulated appearances of deceased celebrities on television. Choi noted technological advancements allow for highly detailed recreations, incorporating features like wrinkles and skin pores.

However, experts caution against simulating deceased individuals, highlighting ethical dilemmas. Emeritus professor Choung Wan of Seoul’s Kyung Hee University Law School emphasized the need for legal protections concerning the deceased. These laws should prohibit creating AI versions against an individual’s wishes while regulating the commercial exploitation of personal images and voices.

Ethical complexities could escalate with the development of ‘griefbots’ or ‘deathbots’ capable of two-way communication between the bereaved and AI versions of deceased individuals. Such interaction could disrupt the mourning process, potentially trapping families in a fantasy, according to Choung. While Vaice remains cautious about AI chatbots due to ethical concerns, the technology’s evolution is rapid.

Technological advances enable more extended conversations, though experts like Ro caution that longer interactions still face challenges, such as mismatches between verbal comments and facial expressions. Ro, who lost both parents, produced a one-minute AI video of them to share with siblings. Though the reunion was moving, Ro noted, ‘Watching it once to honor our elderly parents was sufficient. We moved on.’