Undertakers in China use AI to allow people to communicate with deceased loved ones

A blogger in China shared his experience using AI to generate an avatar of his grandmother who had passed on. — BILIBILI.COM/VIDEO

BEIJING (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): With just a photo, a voice recording and machine learning, undertakers in China are able to use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate life-like avatars of people who have died, allowing their loved ones to “communicate” with them.

In conjunction with the Qing Ming Festival, some funeral companies are using technologies, such as ChatGPT – an AI chatbot – and AI programme Midjourney, to mimic the deceased’s personality, appearance, voice and even memories to allow people to relive moments with their loved ones who have departed the living world, reported Guangzhou Daily.