AI cloning of deceased loved ones flourishes in China
The AI cloning industry in China, specifically focused on creating replicas of deceased relatives, has seen significant growth. This development has not only led to a substantial decrease in prices, but also spurred technological advancements. According to MIT Tech Review reporter Zeyi Yang, mourners can now acquire AI replicas of their departed loved ones, for as low as $140. This is a stark contrast to just few years back, when such services would have cost more than $1,000.
Pioneering AI cloning technology
Silicon Intelligence, a Nanjing-based firm, is leading the way in this innovative technology. The company's co-founder, Sun Kai, had his team generate an avatar of his mother, following her unexpected death in 2019. Despite initial awkwardness and repetitiveness, the clone provided real comfort. "My mom didn't seem very natural, but I still heard the words that she often said: 'Have you eaten yet?'" Sun shared with MIT Tech Review.
AI cloning aligns with ancestor worship traditions
Yang notes that confiding in the dead is an integral part of China's ancestor worship rituals. Although communicating with a digital representation of the deceased, isn't quite the same as writing them letters/burning incense during holidays, the adoption of this technology has accelerated as AI has improved. "So I would say it is catching on, but only a small number for now," Yang told NPR. He also mentioned that two companies have provided this service to over 2,000 clients combined.
Ethical concerns and consent in AI cloning
Despite ethical concerns surrounding this practice, Chinese companies have been creating these avatars with "explicit consent from immediate family members," according to Yang. He further explained that some believe consent should be obtained from all surviving family members before proceeding with the replication. Yang suggested that this type of "deathbot" or "ghost bot," as some have termed it, could potentially become popular in other countries with varying but compatible relationships with the concept of death.
