Mourning in China Gets a High-Tech Twist
This year’s Qingming Festival, a traditional day to honor ancestors, sees a new way to remember loved ones emerging in China: artificial intelligence (AI). For a mere 20 yuan, mourners can create digital avatars of their deceased relatives, allowing them to interact with AI-powered versions of their departed family members.
A Trend Fueled by Innovation and Loss
This trend reflects China’s booming AI industry and its growing use in commemorating the deceased. One example is Bao Xiaobai, a Taiwanese singer who used AI to create a video of his daughter singing “happy birthday” despite only having a short audio clip.
A Booming Market for Digital Afterlives
The market for “digital humans” is flourishing in China, estimated at 12 billion yuan in 2022 and projected to quadruple by 2025. This growth is fueled by the popularity of livestreaming, where AI clones are used to promote products 24/7.
Ethical Concerns and Legal Gray Areas
While AI offers new ways to connect with loved ones, ethical concerns are surfacing. Some argue against creating AI content without the deceased’s family’s consent, especially if it causes emotional distress. A recent incident involving the unauthorized use of deceased singer Qiao Renliang’s footage in a new “video” sparked outrage from his family.
Regulation Scrambles to Catch Up
As China’s tech-savvy population embraces digital afterlives, policymakers struggle to keep pace with regulations. Lawyers advocate for bans on content that inflicts “mental pain” on relatives.
The Future of Mourning in a Digital Age
The intersection of technology, tradition, and grief raises questions about the future of mourning. As AI continues to evolve, so too will the ways we remember those we’ve lost.
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