Looking to the future: (From left) Dr Tan, Chan, Loke, Hon Kong, Yew Foong, Yew Lian and Lee at the EternAI launch event in Kuala Lumpur. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: After her father’s passing, Datin Lee Jye Chyi found solace and a sense of closure through an unexpected source – a moving short video created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
This innovative tribute brought her father back to life in a way that allowed the family to experience a final, heartfelt farewell.
“My dearest daughter, I wouldn’t have made it through these years without you. When I’m gone, please don’t work too hard and take good care of yourself.
“To my grandchildren, grandpa can no longer be with you as I’m going to a faraway place. But I hope you will grow up healthy and happy.
“Remember, when I’m no longer here, don’t cry too much or be sad for too long. Take good care, everyone. Goodbye.”
Such were the words of Lee’s father in a lifelike video of him with the closest depiction of his voice and body posture.
“When I watched the video with my family, we were moved to tears,” said Lee, who is also Nirvana Memorial Park’s central region sales and marketing chief executive officer.
“Although I spent a lot of time with him and took videos of him with our relatives months before his passing, it was comforting to hear his video messages for us over and over again.
“It was as if he never left,” said Lee, whose father died in January following an ailment.
The video, which is part of Nirvana’s latest AI-enhanced farewell ceremony, EternAI, showcased how AI can fill the emotional gap left by sudden loss, she said.
“It conveys love that was unspoken, transforming grief into comfort and helping families move forward in life with the wisdom of the departed. It also helps the younger generations in the family know more about their forefathers,” she added.
EternAI was made possible with Nirvana’s collaboration with its technology partner, AISpaceX, a local technology firm.
Nirvana Asia Group founder and executive chairman Tan Sri Kong Hon Kong described the company’s latest venture as a “groundbreaking innovation” in the bereavement industry.
“One of the most talked-about topics today is AI and how it continuously pushes boundaries, turning futuristic visions into reality. We cannot remain indifferent to this transformation,” he said when met at the launch yesterday.
Hon Kong said EternAI is not only a technological breakthrough, but also a way to preserve and extend the memories of life.
“The advancement of technology is not about replacing tradition but rather, enriching it. We believe that technology can give tradition a deeper sense of warmth and meaning.
“With the rise of AI, we realise that remembrance can transcend life and death, and love can surpass the constraints of time,” he said.
“We believe that EternAI will break the limitations of time and space, bringing back the voices and presence of our loved ones while offering a chance to convey the words left unsaid,” he added.
Hon Kong noted that tradition and technology are not opposites.
“They complement each other. Beyond today’s launch, we are committed to developing AI- driven solutions that streamline services, enrich memorial experiences and bring greater transparency to pre-planning.
“We hope to use AI as a bridge – connecting the past and the future – so that the final moments of life can be filled with warmth and dignity,” he said.
EternAI will be available to bereaving families beginning in May in the Klang Valley, with nationwide expansion expected later.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Nirvana Asia Group chief executive Datuk Seri Jeff Kong Yew Foong, executive director Datuk Reeno Kong Yew Lian, AISpaceX directors Dr Alan Tan and Datuk Seri Henry Chan, and chief executive Loke Chee Wai.
In his briefing, Loke said the video portrayal by EternAI was not just a technical triumph but also a deeply personal achievement.
“The involvement of the family in collecting sufficient data, such as images, voice records and videos, ensured a respectful and meaningful depiction, safeguarding the deceased’s legacy while giving family and friends the closure they’ve longed for.
“It’s a fitting tribute to the enduring impact their loved one had on their lives, capturing the essence of who they were and allowing their memory to continue bringing comfort and connection,” Loke said.
“This process transforms mourning into a celebration of life, honouring the past while offering solace for the future,” he added.
