Is This the Future of Grieving? Artificial Intelligence Resurrects Loved Ones in China For US$1,400

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In a world where technology continues to blur the lines between reality and the digital realm, a new trend is emerging in China that speaks volumes about love, loss, and the human condition.

Grieving relatives are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to create lifelike avatars of their deceased loved ones, that can mimic the speech and thinking patterns of the deceased, Hangzhou Daily has reported.

This innovative approach offers a digital resurrection, allowing individuals to interact with the avatars of those they've lost, a concept that is as comforting to some as it is controversial to others and it is sparking a debate on social media.

How Digital Afterlife Works
The use of AI to "resurrect" the dead has seen a surge in popularity across China, with individuals willing to spend between US$700 and US$1,400 for these "ghost bots". Zhang Zewei, the founder of Super Brain, an AI firm established in May 2023 in Jiangsu province.

This company creates basic avatars capable of mimicking the deceased's thinking and speech patterns from as little as 30 seconds of audiovisual material. This technology has particularly resonated with elderly parents who have lost their children, offering them a semblance of solace and interaction with their departed loved ones.

A Personal Touch to Healing
Understanding that each client has unique needs and memories they wish to preserve, Zhang offers customized counseling services alongside AI creations. His team is capable of cloning voices for chatboxes, providing digital portraits for intelligent speech functions, and creating 3D digital human models.

Since its inception, Super Brain has extended its AI healing service to over 600 families, with fees ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 yuan. The process requires clients to share photos, videos, and audio recordings of the deceased, with the quality of the final avatar improving with the amount of material provided.

The Impact of AI On Grieving
The story of a grieving man surnamed Wu, who is one of Zhang's clients highlights the profound impact this technology can have. After losing his son to a stroke while the young man was studying in the United Kingdom, Wu and his wife found comfort in an avatar that could replicate their son's image and voice.

This digital version of their son even offered them words of love and hope, saying, "Goodbye, my dear parents. I hope I can accompany you all the time, and give you warmth and love." This sentiment, that "death is not the end of love," has resonated with many, illustrating the potential of AI to provide solace in the face of irreparable loss.

Public Reception and Ethical Considerations
The public reaction to this use of AI has been mixed, with some mainland social media users calling it "marvellous" and "therapeutic". However, others question whether this technology might interfere with the natural grieving process, potentially making it harder for individuals to move on.

Despite these concerns, the appeal of AI avatars lies in their ability to offer a temporary respite from grief, allowing people to reconnect with their loved ones in a digital space. As technology continues to evolve, so too will our approaches to dealing with loss, love, and memory.

The advent of AI technology in aiding grief highlights a poignant intersection between technology and human emotion. As we navigate the complexities of love, loss, and memory in the digital age, the stories of those like Wu and his wife remind us of the potential for technology to heal and comfort.

Yet, they also prompt us to reflect on the importance of moving forward and finding peace in life after loss. In the end, the conversation around AI and grieving in China opens up broader dialogues about the role of technology in our lives and the eternal human quest to keep love alive, even in death.