Creators like Shanghai Fushouyun, a Chinese funeral company, and Metaphysic have begun to use generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT and Midjourney to create videos of the dead.
Fushouyun uses ChatGPT and Midjourney to create lifelike avatars of the dead as part of its memorial services. The company says that this helps people to connect with their loved ones who have passed away. While Metaphysic offers an invite-only pro service for creators and other public figures to lock down their likenesses. This service allows people to control how their AI likenesses can be used.
This practice poses a number of ethical and legal considerations. On the one hand, artificial intelligence-generated movies of the deceased may bring consolation and peace to surviving families and followers. They could, on the other side, be used to exploit or mimic the deceased, or to propagate falsehoods.
One of the biggest concerns is the potential for AI-generated videos to be used without the consent of the deceased or their loved ones. For example, a creator could use AI to create a video of a dead celebrity endorsing a product or making political statements. This could be especially problematic in cases where the celebrity never expressed those views in real life.
Another concern is the potential for AI-generated videos of the dead to be used to spread misinformation. For example, a creator could use AI to create a video of a dead politician making false statements about their opponents. This could have a significant impact on public discourse and elections.
On the positive, they could be used to create educational videos about history or science. They could also be used to create art or entertainment that is inspired by the lives of the deceased.
The sources for this piece include an article in Axios.
