As AI incrementally slowly makes its way into becoming a cornerstone of society, new ways of implementation are found each day. In China, some AI firms are creating ‘digital avatars’ for grieving families whose loved ones have passed away to provide comfort and help in the process of dealing with devastating losses. Companies use photographs, video and audio recordings to bring to life those who have transitioned in the form of artificial intelligence capable of speech. While this industry remains in its infancy it is reported that many in China are opting to go this route to soothe their pain.
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The case of Seakoo Wu
Such is the case of Seakoo Wu, a grieving father who lost his son to a sudden stroke while abroad in England studying at Exeter University. Stricken with grief, Wu began searching for ways to resurrect his son using technology. He collected photos, video and audio files and hired AI firms to clone his son Xuanmo’s likeness.
Wu understands that the results are limited to videos of the avatar talking in a video but he hopes to utilise powerful algorithms to replicate his lost one’s speech and thinking and ultimately build a replica in virtual reality. Wu states:
Once we synchronise reality and the metaverse, I'll have my son with me again
I can train him... so that when he sees me, he knows I'm his father.
A new industry
Companies such as Super Brain aim to capitalise on this growing market in China and hope to meet the demand of grieving families. Zhang Zewei the CEO of the company:
There are so many people in China, many with emotional needs, which gives us an advantage when it comes to market demand
Zhang hopes for this technology to have the same effect that pictures had when they were invented. In the same way, photographs allowed people to preserve the memory of their loved ones, AI will be the upgrade for modern times.
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Sources:
France24: Chinese mourners use AI to digitally resurrect the dead
