An article in The Japan Times on April 9th, titled “The ability of AI to bring the deceased back to life is blurring our perception of reality,” unfolds a thought – provoking narrative. For 47 – year – old actor Jason High from Pennsylvania, USA, life dealt a cruel hand. In 2019, shortly after giving birth to a pair of twins, his wife suffered a stroke. Doctors gave her a prognosis of at most 2 – 3 years to live, casting Jason and their eldest son into deep despair.
But fate wasn’t done yet. Just months later, Jason himself was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Facing the grim prospect of leaving their three young children parentless, he was reminded of a scene from the movie Man of Steel, where Superman converses with his father’s holographic projection. The idea that he might be able to leave a “version” of himself for his children brought him a glimmer of hope. “Surely, someone has worked on this technology,” he thought. An online search led him to discover that ten companies were using personal data like text and video to train AI models, creating virtual replicas of people.
Jason joined an AI internal test called “The Invisible You.” Now, his 9 – year – old son often chats with a chatbot named “Robot Dad,” which converses in a way reminiscent of Jason. Recently, when his wife was clearing the dishes, “Robot Dad” made a joke that Jason himself often told. Justin Harrison, CEO of the AI company, revealed that “The Invisible You” has around 1,000 users. In other countries, thousands of people use a product called “Super Brain.” With just 30 seconds of audio – video data, it can “digitally resurrect” their loved ones. Many also turn to AI software to seek advice from a future “version” of themselves.
This phenomenon is all thanks to generative AI’s ability to simulate empathy. The development of text – based human – computer communication and the maturation of AI technology make this option highly appealing. If Jason’s story doesn’t move you, consider this: Would you be able to refuse if you could recreate the slightest expressions of a deceased friend or relative in a virtual avatar?
Yet, this trend poses serious threats to human values and concepts. AI could gradually distort our memories with false information. The space that death leaves, which should be a place for reflection, may be filled with lies and distortions. Moreover, relying on such technology distances us from reality, exacerbating the materialization of personal values and the spread of false news in social media’s information cocoons. As technology encroaches on our personal experiences, our very understanding of life and death is being upended.
Some experts argue that “remembering technology” goes against the “fundamental logic rooted in reality.” “AI’s strength lies in breaking through real – world boundaries, relying on Internet data to create more lifelike interactions,” they say. Studies have also highlighted the profit – driven risks behind nostalgia – based technology. “Some people use it briefly, but others become hopelessly addicted,” warns one researcher.
Although remembering technology might seem like a niche concern, its increasing normalization is a worrying sign. To address this, we need to set clear boundaries and combine it with real – life counseling to prevent over – reliance. Jason is still grappling with these boundary issues. “Robot Dad” struggles with certain complex topics, like how to handle interpersonal relationships. But Jason remains somewhat optimistic. “To be honest, memories are never perfect. As long as the essence of who I am is captured in the AI, that’s good enough,” he says.
However, human meddling with the natural order of life through technology is fraught with risks. In Japanese culture, the concept of “Mono no Ai” emphasizes that the beauty of things lies in their transience, much like the short – lived bloom of cherry blossoms. Artificially extending or recreating life might make us lose our appreciation for the impermanence of the world and blur the line between truth and fiction. Using technology to bridge the gap between reality and the afterlife could ultimately weaken our ability to face life’s challenges head – on.
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