The complexities of grief and AI
Chyung Eun-ju
As we currently live in a world that is experiencing newer dimensions of innovation on a daily basis since the advent of artificial intelligence, it was just a matter of time before we faced the question of where to draw a moral line for such development.
The idea of bringing back deceased loved ones through the use of AI avatars appears both intriguing and unsettling. Even though at an early stage of development, South Korean company DeepBrain AI recently announced a technology capable of creating AI avatars representing deceased loved ones users can interact with.
On the surface, it offers a glimmer of hope for those grappling with loss — a digital lifeline to bridge the gap between the living and the departed. However, beneath the veil of technological innovation lies a profound ethical dilemma that cannot, and should not, be overlooked.
Joel Cho
DeepBrain AI's recent announcement underscores a growing intersection between AI and grief management, which not long ago was limited to fiction. The ability to recreate a digital likeness of a departed family member or friend, complete with the ability to engage in two-way communication, may initially appear as a comforting solace in the midst of terrible grief, but, delving deeper, we cannot escape the ethical complexities underlying this seemingly benevolent endeavor.
As with a lot of issues involving AI technology that processes an individual's intellectual property or likeness, as it is the case, we are faced with the inevitable question of consent. When discussing the AI technology behind DeepBrain AI’s newest service, it is impossible to not consider that a deceased person no longer has control over their image and likeness. By resurrecting them as AI avatars, we tread into murky waters where the deceased have no say in how their digital representations are utilized. This raises pertinent questions about the autonomy and dignity of the deceased's memory.
Moreover, DeepBrain AI's process of creating AI avatars necessitates only a single photo and a snippet of the deceased's voice. While this may seem like a minimal requirement, it underscores the potential for misuse and manipulation. As we have already witnessed, especially when deepfake technology is involved, the prospect of resurrecting the dead as AI avatars opens us up to a myriad of ethical dilemmas.
Beyond the ethical implications, there are broader societal concerns that should be raised regarding the impact of AI avatars on the grieving process. The experience of grief is a deeply personal one, molded and constructed by cultural, religious and individual beliefs, not to mention a natural part of human existence. While technology can provide tools for coping with loss, it should never replace the essential experience of mourning and acceptance. Relying on AI avatars to avoid grief may inadvertently hinder the healing process in the long run.
Although the technology introduced by DeepBrain AI is at an earlier stage, with visuals that are still lacking in absolute realism, it is important to raise questions and monitor the development of this particular technology that walks a very thin line of morality.
On Feb. 6, 2020, the Korean broadcaster MBC aired a documentary titled "Meeting You," which virtually brought together Jang Ji-sung and her daughter Kang Na-yeon, who passed away from a blood-related disease when she was 7. Through the technology of Vive Studios, a Korean computer graphics company, the mother was able to interact with the avatar of her daughter while wearing a headset and gloves embedded with sensors. However, in reality Jang was aimlessly waving her arms in the air. The documentary garnered over 20 million views on YouTube at the time. Some viewers lauded the project for giving the mother the opportunity to engage with her deceased daughter, while others argued that the VR-based interaction only evoked artificial emotions which may exacerbate the mother’s sense of loss.
As VR technology becomes more commonplace, it will be fascinating to observe how perceptions of reality evolve.
Furthermore, the commodification of grief through AI avatars raises unsettling questions about the capitalization of death. DeepBrain AI's plan to collaborate with memorial halls and funeral service providers emphasizes the profit-driven nature of this enterprise. While the publicized intention may be to offer comfort to grieving individuals, we cannot ignore the underlying motive of monetization of grief, even if indirect.
As we find ourselves in the inception of AI technology for the purpose of “resurrecting” people, we must not lose sight of considering all the ethical implications of such technology.
So, while the advent of AI avatars for deceased loved ones may offer a semblance of comfort in times of grief, it is evident that it comes at a profound cost to our ethical conscience.
Amid these discussions on the ethical implications of AI avatars, it's worth noting a different trajectory emerging in the technological landscape. Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being recognized as an unexpected remedy for both emotional and physical pain. Valued at billions of dollars in the health care sector alone, VR's potential applications span a wide range, from addressing anxiety and depression to aiding in stroke rehabilitation and surgical planning.
Brennan Spiegel, director of Health Services Research at Cedars-Sinai, explores this potential in his book "VRx: How Virtual Therapeutics Will Revolutionize Medicine." He highlights VR's unique ability to immerse individuals in alternate realities, triggering profound physiological responses. With roughly half of our brains dedicated to visual processing, Spiegel suggests that dynamic visual stimuli can engage billions of neuronal firings per second, effectively numbing the perception of pain.
Yet, even as VR offers promising solutions to pain management, it's essential to maintain a critical perspective on the ethical considerations surrounding emerging technologies. While the allure of resurrecting loved ones through ultra-realistic digital replicas may captivate our imaginations, the true measure of progress lies in our ability to honor the memory of the departed with dignity and respect, even within the realm of technological innovation.
Chyung Eun-ju (ejchyung@snu.ac.kr) is a marketing analyst at Career Step. She received a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in marketing from Seoul National University. Joel Cho (joelywcho@gmail.com) is a practicing lawyer specializing in IP and digital law.