Beyond the Grave: Should AI Revive the Past?

Recently, AI video generation platforms have shown immense proficiency in producing hyperrealistic videos. As programs continue to improve, the public struggles to differentiate what is reality versus AI. This can have positive implications, especially when creators use this technology to produce more meaningful or personal content. For instance, the Museum of Jewish Heritage now utilizes videos of Holocaust survivors to create AI versions of them that can “hear” and “answer” visitors’ questions to simulate a conversation. Having what seems almost like direct contact with a survivor can leave a much stronger impact on a viewer than simply reading about their stories or watching a video.

AI video generation can be used not only for educational purposes, but also for personal ones. Most people have had instances when they wished they could speak to deceased loved ones again, to hear their voices, and not just through an old video recording. AI software programs like Storyfile, Eternos, and Here After AI are able to simulate this experience by generating an interactive digital representation of a person that can engage in conversation, based on interviews and provided information. Families use this technology to preserve the memories of their loved ones, so they can be passed down across generations in a seemingly authentic way. Some are touched by these simulations while others are disturbed, especially as they consider their implications on the privacy and lack of consent of those who have passed away. The creation of digital legacy content on these platforms is typically consensual, often involving interviews with the individual and their family before the person passes away. This certainly isn’t always the case with AI video generation. 

Creating AI-generated media of those who have passed raises a myriad of ethical concerns. These include the individual’s privacy, their right to autonomy, and dignity after death. Even if the media is made with positive intent, if the deceased person hasn’t given their consent, it is still problematic.Words are still being put in their mouths, and we have no way of knowing if they would have agreed with what they have said. Additionally, even if consent was given, the situation could also escalate and that consent could be used to justify AI generation beyond what was originally agreed upon. 

The risks of this type of video generation are shown in recent events where countless historical figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Stephen Hawking, have been mocked through AI-generated disrespectful depictions. As these videos took over social media platforms, MLK Jr.’s estate filed a complaint against OpenAI after the company’s new text-to-video app, Sora 2, became one of the most popular platforms for the public to mock deceased celebrities. It took a formal request from King, Inc. for the company to shut down these depictions and announce that they would strengthen guardrails for historical figures. This raises concerns for average citizens who also fear distasteful generations of their loved ones, but may not have the influence or resources to take action. Many have also raised questions regarding what this means when it comes to freedom of speech. 

AI video generation has certainly proven to have some incredible applications, and is only going to get more accurate and widespread. Just on social media, we have seen proof of both the positive and negative sides of this aspect of AI, whether it be  sweet videos of people hugging their grandparents or mocking or comedic videos of important deceased figures. Questions about consent, privacy, and respect are important to keep in mind as AI becomes increasingly present in our lives. Though AI can not feel emotions, it can certainly cause them, so we should also consider the implications of families facing their deceased loved ones again, and the effects this will have on grief and society's views surrounding death and legacy.

Anna Bulto ’26 and Skylar Li ’26

Works Cited

Carballo, Rebecca. “Using A.I. to Talk to the Dead.” The New York Times, 11 December 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/technology/ai-chatbots-dead-relatives.html. Accessed 25 October 2025.

Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. “Survivor Stories: An Interactive Dialogue.” Museum of Jewish Heritage, 27 Jan 2025, https://mjhnyc.org/exhibitions/survivor-stories/. Accessed 25 October 2025.

“OpenAI stops 'disrespectful' Martin Luther King Jr Sora videos.” BBC, 17 October 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y0g79xevxo. Accessed 25 October 2025.

“What Does Free Speech Mean?” United States Courts, https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does-free-speech-mean. Accessed 26 October 2025.