Demonic: AI App That Lets Users Talk to Dead Loved Ones Faces Backlash

The AI app 'Demonic' launched by the startup 2Wai allows users to create interactive digital replicas of deceased loved ones via its 'HoloAvatar' feature. Users can generate these avatars from just a few minutes of audio and video footage, prompting ethical concerns surrounding consent and the commercialization of grief. Critics have expressed strong disapproval of the app, likening it to concepts seen in dystopian narratives such as the 'Black Mirror' episode 'Be Right Back', where users reanimate lost loved ones digitally. Concerns also arise from the gray legal area regarding the use of deceased individuals' likenesses without explicit consent, leaving mourners vulnerable to exploitation and risking the integrity of their memories. Despite the criticism, 2Wai's co-founder emphasizes the app aims to create a lasting legacy of humanity's stories, while ethical experts warn about the potential psychological effects on the bereaved. This controversy amplifies discussions about the responsibilities of tech companies in the grief-tech sector and the need for regulation in AI applications related to posthumous digital representations.

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