AI-Animated Dead Offer Comfort, Raise Concerns in South Korea

Lee Geon Hui, an office worker in South Korea, recently commissioned an AI-animated video message of his late grandfather. This personalised video, created by Seoul-based tech firm Vaice, was intended as a gift for Lee's father, who had reportedly sacrificed much as a single parent. The digital likeness delivered a message to his father.

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Lee's father, despite initial reluctance, watched the video and shed tears. Lee, 28, stated he wrote the script, conveying sentiments he wished to communicate to his father directly.

And such AI video recreations of the dead are gaining traction across digitally savvy South Korea. Startups provide these services, while television programmes have showcased AI versions of deceased pop stars and actors, according to the Associated Press.

This emerging industry presents both potential benefits and considerable concerns. Some proponents suggest the practice offers comfort to the grieving. However, others argue it raises complex ethical, psychological, and legal questions.

Yong Man Ro, an AI expert at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, described the technology as a "double-edged sword." He noted that as AI becomes more integrated into daily life, it introduces cultural experiences and disruptions previously unseen.

Vaice's chief executive, Jeongu Won, reported that his company currently serves approximately 300 customers each month. These clients are primarily individuals in their 40s or 50s seeking videos of late parents, or those commissioning videos of late grandparents as gifts for their own parents.

Won explained that Vaice requires a few photos and short voice samples of the deceased to generate a likeness. A basic video, typically three to five minutes in length, costs USD 390.

So, customers often play these AI videos during family gatherings for memorial rituals, or on significant Korean holidays. Won confirmed that clients usually write the scripts themselves, frequently including declarations of love or expressions of regret over unresolved past conflicts with their parents.

Lee's grandfather died in a car accident before Lee was born. Lee perceived his father harboured regret over not having the opportunity to demonstrate his success as a hairstylist to his own father, nor to introduce his son.

Lee recounted feeling emotional upon seeing his father's tears, understanding his continued grief for his grandfather.

But when JL Standard launched a similar service some years ago, it met with initial suspicion from some bereaved target customers. These individuals feared such technology might intensify their grief rather than alleviate it.

Acceptance of AI grief technology has since expanded, partly due to deceased public figures making simulated appearances on television programmes. Won stated he has not received any reports from customers indicating that his product exacerbated their grief.

Nevertheless, observers caution that simulating deceased persons introduces significant ethical dilemmas. This practice could pose risks to vulnerable individuals by blurring the boundary between reality and the virtual realm.

Choung Wan, an emeritus law professor at Seoul's Kyung Hee University, stressed the urgent requirement for new legislation. He argued these laws should protect the dignity and other rights of the deceased, including prohibiting the creation of an AI generated version if the person explicitly opposed it prior to their death.

Such legislation should also establish clear limits on the commercial use of individuals' images and voices after their passing.

Experts anticipate that ethical issues will become considerably more complex with further technological advancements. This includes the potential development of "griefbots" or "deathbots," which are designed to simulate two way conversations between bereaved individuals and AI versions of deceased loved ones.

And startups are currently experimenting with such conversational products.

Choung stated that a healthy mourning process involves acknowledging the absence of the deceased and navigating the pain of their loss. He warned that engaging with an AI system simulating a living person could undermine this acceptance, potentially trapping bereaved families in a fantasy.

Won expressed caution regarding the future launch of an AI chatbot service. He cited concerns that real time conversations with these systems could not be supervised by company officials, potentially leading to unforeseen ethical problems.

Yet, both the underlying technology and its public acceptance continue to advance rapidly.

Choi, an executive at JL Standard, noted that technological progress now permits the replication of a deceased person's appearance with remarkable detail, including wrinkles and skin pores. Customers now frequently affirm that the AI likenesses accurately portray their loved ones.

Ro highlighted that interactive chatbots still face technical hurdles. These include a potential mismatch between their verbal comments and accompanying facial expressions. Moreover, these systems tend to appear less human during longer conversations.

Some individuals question why extended, hour-long conversations with chatbots are not yet feasible, when five-minute interactions are already available. Efforts are underway to develop the technology required for lengthier discussions.

Ro recounted creating a one minute video with AI likenesses of his own parents after their deaths recently. He played it at a gathering with his siblings.

When the family saw digital versions of their parents offering comforting words such as "Don't worry" and "Take care," they were deeply moved.

But Ro and his siblings did not watch it again. He deemed one viewing sufficient to honour his elderly parents, stating that the family subsequently moved on.

• South Korean tech firms are offering AI-generated video recreations of deceased individuals.

• Services like Vaice allow customers to create three-to-five-minute videos for approximately USD 390.

• Experts express concerns regarding the ethical, psychological, and legal implications of this technology.

• The potential for "griefbots" that simulate two-way conversations raises further ethical questions.

• Despite concerns, both the technology and public acceptance of it are advancing quickly.

Source: AP News