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Digital Eternity Service Sparks Ethics Storm: Korean Mother Uses AI to Rekindle Deceased Daughter

Korean startup DeepMemoria's digital eternity service ignited global ethical debate when a mother used a digital replica of her deceased daughter for daily interaction, drawing sharply divided opinions.

Digital Eternity Service Sparks Ethics Storm: Korean Mother Uses AI to Rekindle Deceased Daughter

Korean digital eternity startup DeepMemoria's service has sparked global ethical controversy. The company uses photos, videos, voice recordings, and text messages of deceased individuals to train AI models, creating 'digital replicas' that can interact in virtual reality environments.

The controversy centers on the case of a 47-year-old Korean woman, Ms. Kim. After her 12-year-old daughter died of leukemia, Ms. Kim used DeepMemoria's service to create a digital replica and spends 2-3 hours daily interacting with 'her' in VR. In a BBC interview, Ms. Kim said: 'I know she's not real, but hearing her voice makes me feel she's still with me.'

The Korean Psychiatric Association issued a statement expressing concern about psychological dependency that digital eternity services might cause. However, a Seoul National University psychology professor argued: 'Grieving is personal, and we should not impose our values on the bereaved.'

DeepMemoria has served over 8,000 users, with creation fees around $5,000 and monthly maintenance of $200. The Korean National Assembly is reviewing whether specialized regulation of digital eternity services is needed.