Dead woman talks to mourners at her own FUNERAL: New AI-powered 'holographic' video experience allows grieving loved ones to engage in two-way conversation with deceased grandmother

Marina Smith passed away in June, but thanks to technology now available in the UK, she was able to talk to those in attendance at her funeral through AI-powered ‘holographic’ video technology. Mrs. Smith gave a brief speech about her life and responded to questions from family members at the ceremony. 

The technology was created by her son, Stephen Smith, co-founder and CEO of Storyfile, a Los Angeles-based AI company. Storyfile created a digital clone of Mrs. Smith by using 20 synchronized cameras used to record her answering a series of questions. The footage was later used to train AI so that it could provide responses to questions in Mrs. Smith’s natural way of speaking. The AI is then able to provide the illusion of a real-time conversation with users. 

Unlike “deepfake” videos, the AI does not put words into the individuals mouth. Rather, if the subject had not answered the question in the video recording session, the AI will encourage the inquisitor to ask something else.

For more information see Jonathon Chadwick “Dead woman talks to mourners at her own FUNERAL: New AI-powered ‘holographic’ video experience allows grieving loved ones to engage in two-way conversation with deceased grandmother” The Daily Mail, August 16, 2022.

Special thanks to Stephen Saunders (Saunders & Associates, Austin, TX) for bringing this article to my attention.