AI-generated videos are one of nan astir arguable things to travel retired of nan generative AI boom. From copyright violations and disinformation to nan integer slop-ification of nan internet, location is plentifulness of logic to beryllium wary of. But it seems location are immoderate slivers of hope, too. In Russia, for example, family members are paying much money than an mean streaming aliases AI work to create memorial videos of dormant soldiers.
The large picture

The family members of soldiers who mislaid their lives successful nan ongoing conflict pinch Ukraine are utilizing AI services to create farewell videos depicting them pinch loved ones. “Using neural networks and observant editing, we recreate nan infinitesimal of reunion and merchandise them into nan heavens,” says nan advertisement of a Russian institution shared connected Telegram.
In nan videos, nan integer recreation of a deceased worker tin beryllium stepping nan stairs to heaven, hugging a family member, aliases kissing their partner. The costs of these videos ranges astir betwixt $20 and $80, depending connected nan magnitude of nan clips and whether you want civilization audio, arsenic well. The audio clips are besides generated utilizing AI, based connected nan recordings supplied by friends and family members.

“For Yelena Kirghizova, nan widow of nan serviceman successful nan video, nan AI-made video was astir closure. In an obituary she wrote to travel nan clip, she explained that his assemblage was ne'er returned to nan family — a problem that has agelong plagued nan Russian army, which often fails to way down missing soldiers and leaves relatives searching for answers for months,” says a study by The Washington Post.
The large shift
These farewell videos that are attracting millions of views are tied to a societal task called “Final Meeting” connected nan Russian societal media level VK, aliases VKontakte. On nan much macabre broadside of things, The Post precocious reported really AI facial nickname package was being utilized to place dormant Russian soldiers. The inclination of AI resurrection, however, is not alien.
On nan contrary, it’s a immense inclination successful China, and galore companies, arsenic good arsenic independent creators, are making a slope retired of nan demand. In China, companies specified arsenic Silicon Intelligence are getting progressively celebrated for offering services wherever pictures of nan deceased aliases aging family members are animated utilizing AI to create moving integer mosaics aliases short clips.
In immoderate cases, however, family members and loved ones are besides looking for company. To that end, they are paying companies to create an AI chatbot aliases integer avatar based connected nan representation and characteristics of a definite person. The technological organization has referred to this techno-cultural displacement arsenic “deadbots” and has raised alarms astir their risks, arsenic well.