Artificial Resurrection
One of the promises of the artificial intelligence (AI) systems based around large-language models (LLMs) is the persuasive simulation of real people.
To get a taste of the current capabilities, Zach Weissmueller, co-host of the Reason Just Asking Questions video podcast, began a recent discussion with an introduction by his artificially emulated self. The video double was made quickly and easily, Weissmueller explained, using Heygen AI and a script from ChatGPT. Watch the first three minutes (approximately) of the YouTube to get a sense of the artificial and real Zach:
The discussion with Ethan Mollick, business professor at Wharton, contains plenty of other good stuff, too. Mollick has become an expert in what we’re calling AI these days, having been an early adopter of the first public releases of ChatGPT, happily testing the technology’s capabilities and limitations. He has pioneered its use in teaching, business development, and entrepreneurial inspiration.
But the first three minutes of a spot-made emulated host—in voice and image—raise the possibility that with better technology and some more audio and video input, the artificial version of a person could be made quite real. The simplistic denunciation of the tech as merely producing so-called deep fakes of popular figures overlooks other likely uses.
What if we could use the technology to reconnect to those we love who aren’t here right now?
Research psychologist Paul Bloom1 considered the potentials and pitfalls in an article “Be Right Back” at his Small Potatoes Substack page. His starting point was a ten-year-old episode of the Black Mirror Netflix series.
If we consider the current weaknesses of the technology, bearing in mind its ever improving capabilities, it isn’t hard to imagine a near future where anyone could use it. You could use recordings of famous people, for instance, to have them serve as your portable companions on emulated video calls, just for fun. You could record video and audio of your favorite people, friends and family, in order to generate their likenesses for to share their company. For that matter, you might decide to record yourself for the specific purpose of having a Doppelgänger available to chat with others while you’re asleep or attending to other commitments.
Bloom’s mother died when he was only 10. Thinking of that and the potential of the technology inspired him. He addressed several aspects in the post, which is self-recommending. Is the technology a cure for temporary absence of loved ones who have to go away? Is it a cure for loneliness for a person’s survivors?
Would you want others to interact with an emulation of yourself? Would you want an AI version of you to be part of your inheritance?
The variety of potential uses—good ones rather than only bad—has yet to be explored exhaustively.
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It wasn't me! Hey, Opt, was that you?
There are times where the idea of being able to hear Pam's voice again is tempting. Sadly, there's not much video of her speaking, she was a person of few words. We had dates where she said fewer than ten words all evening (including "hello Jay" and "g'night Jay"). She was good natured, but quiet. I don't know AI would do well capturing her, without dozens of hours of her. She was expressive, but you had to learn to read her face.
Two months ago while digging out an old tote from the attic, I came across two pictures of Christy (group shots), taken with a Polaroid camera. Her birthday will be Saturday, so I wrote a story for her parents and included a scan of both photos, discussing the scene for the photos. The scary part is I had long remembered her outfit that night (white reeboks, tight jeans, a red and white striped blouse, the sleeves 3/4 length). As I saw the photo, yeah, it was as I remembered her.
Her Mom's birthday is June 11th. While doing research on Friends' ancestors, I began noticing yearbook pictures are appearing on ancestry.com. I searched her name (she's not a Friend), finding her sophomore and senior HS pictures. I clipped them into a letter I'll send her for her birthday. I'll include a story of her first meeting me, and when she gave me "the look", that mother's appraisal of a young man interested in her daughter. But her eyes twinkled afterwards, so I think I passed that test....Probably with a Gentleman's C, even though I was no gentleman.
Two of the MBA courses I teach are hybrid (they watch about 90 minutes of video lectures each week, plus we meet live for two hours). I have over 30 hours of video stored for my family. I've also recorded a few stories for each child. Plus I have a few funny videos where I sing Happy Birthday to them in a doom 'n gloom voice.