In South Korea, people use AI bots to 'chat' with dead loved ones

Korean mother Jang Ji-sung (音译) stood in front of her daughter in virtual reality, tears streaming down her face, longing for one last embrace. Her daughter, Nayeon (音译), comforted her, softly saying, "Mom, don't cry." This emotion was overwhelming for Jang Ji-sung, who reached out to touch her daughter's face, but her hand passed right through. After all, this was not a real encounter.

Jang Ji-sung's seven-year-old daughter passed away three years ago from a rare malignant disease. In the South Korean broadcasting company MBC's documentary "Meeting You," her image was recreated through virtual reality technology. The purpose of the show was to give those grieving the loss of loved ones a chance for a final farewell. Although the technology at the time now seems outdated, it was state-of-the-art back then.

Jang Ji-sung recalled, "Although the feeling of the virtual daughter was a little different, the surrounding environment and elements created a very immersive feeling. I just treated her like my daughter." Years later, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to virtually recreate the deceased to help loved ones alleviate their grief. As technology advances, these so-called "griefbots" are becoming easier to use, less expensive, and more persuasive.

For people like Jang Ji-sung, using this technology has proven helpful, and the world seemed "lighter" after the virtual interaction. But there are also many dangers, with experts warning that vulnerable people may become addicted to the technology because it offers false hope. Alessandra Lemma, a clinical psychologist at University College London, said, "One of the risks is that individuals may become dependent on griefbots. People will be deluded by it because it looks like the good old days, but it's just an illusion."

Jang Ji-sung remembers her daughter as a cheerful, warm, and very strong-willed child. The day before Nayeon showed signs of illness, she was photographed in a swimming pool with a bright, youthful smile on her face. The next day, she started to have a fever. At first, the illness was mysterious but not overly concerning. The local hospital said there was no reason to worry. "They didn't know the cause," Jang Ji-sung recalled, "She would have a fever at night, but after taking antipyretics, her condition would quickly improve, so she was fine."

But as time went on, the symptoms worsened, and Jang Ji-sung took her daughter to Seoul National University Hospital. Just 10 days later, Nayeon passed away. Doctors diagnosed her with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare disease that causes white blood cells to attack vital organs. "I think we missed the golden time," Jang Ji-sung said. Nayeon's sudden death meant that Jang Ji-sung felt she never had a chance to say goodbye. "I actually blamed myself, thinking, 'Did she get sick because I didn't do something?'," she said, "On the last day, she was in so much pain that she kicked the bed next to her, and even then, I said, 'Don't kick other people's beds.' I hate myself for that."

About three years later, Jang Ji-sung agreed to participate in the filming of the documentary, feeling that she had processed the worst of her grief. At the end of the show, which aired in 2020, Jang Ji-sung was filmed spending her last moments with her daughter. The two played games together and even sang a birthday song, before Nayeon finally went to bed, said goodbye to her mother, and turned into a butterfly. "Mom, we'll be together forever," the virtual daughter said.

Jang Ji-sung felt strange after the experience, and she and her husband both thought on the way home that the virtual Nayeon didn't really resemble their daughter. But it still felt very real, and the process was therapeutic. "As time went on, I felt my heart become lighter and more comfortable." Since the documentary aired, the ability to create characters using artificial intelligence has flourished. At that time, creating a virtual reality character took months, and actors were involved to help guide the model's movements. Technical and budgetary limitations also meant that the model was largely scripted rather than interactive.

Now, the situation may be very different, with more and more companies around the world entering the field, leveraging technological advances. South Korean company DeepBrain AI is one such company. Its main business is creating interactive AI models for businesses. These completely artificial "humans" can be used to answer questions at company service desks or for hotel check-ins. But four years ago, it began using the technology to recreate the deceased. The first version of "Rememory" was fully interactive, allowing grieving family members to have complete conversations with images of their loved ones. The interactions would take place in a special studio set up by the company.

Lee Jung-soo (音译), head of business at DeepBrain AI, said, "They would come here, have actual conversations with the deceased, and have the conversations they wanted to have." To achieve a high degree of accuracy, people would need to come to the studio before they died to record their audio and movements. But this proved too cumbersome, customer interest waned, and the project was simplified. "It's difficult for older people to stand or sit in our studio for long periods of time," said Park Yong-hoon (音译), head of the creative team at Deepbrain AI, "From our perspective, it was a very costly part, so I think that's why it was difficult to continue."

For the latest, simplified version of "Rememory," Deepbrain AI animates a photo or video and mimics the person's voice to deliver a final farewell and comforting message. The service costs about $1,000 and has proven very popular. "The number of consultations per month is about 30 to 40," Mr. Lee said, "About 20-30% of those consultations actually go into production."

The most famous application of using artificial intelligence to bring the dead to life is in recreating celebrities in movies. In these cases, the biggest concern is usually the "uncanny valley" effect, where people feel uneasy when something looks almost human but not quite. But when it comes to grief, the impact of bad AI is much more serious. Dr. Lemma said, "I think as humans, we always try our best to avoid painful feelings, and loss is a very painful mental state."

While "Rememory" simulations may seem fairly rudimentary, fully interactive "griefbots" have also emerged in recent years due to the explosion of artificial intelligence technology. These bots can now scrape data more effectively than ever before, enabling them to convincingly mimic someone's mannerisms, voice, appearance, and personality. It is also becoming easier for anyone to create their own griefbots by simply feeding data into existing AI programs or platforms.

Dr. Lemma said she can imagine griefbots being helpful. For example, a young child might learn more about a parent they lost at a very young age, or it could help someone process a loss they have been reluctant to face. "Sometimes what happens with grief is that people can't grieve. They move on very, very quickly, actually bypassing the grieving process," she said, "I can imagine that interacting with a griefbot in therapy might allow that person to reconnect with feelings that they have shut down."

The technology can also be used for education. In 2023, Holocaust survivor Inge Auerbacher debuted in a virtual interactive experience where users could ask questions about Nazi concentration camps. But there are concerns about how the technology will ultimately be misused, especially in poorly regulated areas. "If this technology becomes readily available, not expensive, and specifically marketed to people who might want to find ways to avoid loss, then I can see it becoming more and more popular," Dr. Lemma said, "One of the risks is that individuals may become dependent on griefbots."

Of course, people will also have concerns about companies potentially reusing someone's data or likeness without their consent. Deepbrain AI insists that it has strict privacy rules but understands that people have mixed views on the technology. The company says it is important to approach the business with a kind attitude and to offer counseling services. Creative Director Park said, "Everyone seems to feel differently about grief, not everyone wants this. Even among people I know, there are those who find it very disturbing."

Jang Ji-sung was shocked that her virtual interaction went viral online. She understands that people have mixed views on the technology. "It's different for everyone, but I found it helpful," she said. She compared seeing her virtual reality daughter to visiting someone's gravestone. "Having the opportunity to do something like this, rather than holding onto feelings that might become a disease in my heart, I was able to offload them onto the AI, which eased my mind," she said, "It was an unexpected wound healing for me."