Taiwanese actor uses AI to revive his deceased daughter in virtual form

Renowned Taiwanese entertainer Tino Bao has used artificial intelligence to revive his deceased daughter Bao Wong. Capable of real-time conversations, the digital reconstruction of the singer/actor’s daughter is able to speak, sing and dance for her surviving family.

The AI revival has been criticised by online commenters, likening it to fans creating AI clones of George Carlin and other celebrities. However, some see it as a positive use of AI, in the same vein as actor Val Kilmer using AI to restore his voice.

Bao Wong sadly passed away at the age of 22 from a rare blood disease. During her final days, the young woman lost her voice due to a tracheal intubation, leaving her unable to say goodbye to her family.

This sequence of events led 56-year-old Tino Bao to start studying artificial intelligence as a way to bring his daughter back. Amidst his grief, the singer/actor took a PhD course to understand the process of digitally reviving his only child.

Via Radii, the AI recreation of his deceased daughter has been shown talking, dancing and even singing happy birthday to her mother in various videos posted to social media.

Bao’s intense grief has been discussed by fans. Since the passing of his young daughter, the beloved entertainer’s typical short, dark hair has turned into long, chest-height white hair. The actor has explained that they refuse to cut off their hair as it grazed their daughter’s forehead before her passing.

Those who’ve seen the videos of Tino Bao’s AI daughter have had mixed reception to the technology. While some believe that the technology could help the parents move on, others believe it could do the opposite as well as crossing ethical boundaries many find uncomfortable.

We’ve already seen controversy surrounding the corporate use of AI clones including a creepy AI Walt Disney to celebrate 100 years of entertainment, an AI George Carlin comedy special that’s resulted in a lawsuit and many more.

“Actually, there’s no need for this; if souls truly exist, his daughter won't be able to rest in peace and move on to reincarnation,” one Weibo user said regarding the situation.

There’s also the belief that the existence of AI clones of deceased family members may end up harming the grieving process. With a virtual reconstruction of your beloved person’s face, body and voice, you may never be able to reconcile with their passing.

Whether or not the entertainer should be engaging with an AI clone of their deceased daughter is, frankly, not for us to say. While we have our own opinions regarding the use of AI clones without express consent from the real person, we can’t deny that this use could potentially help those who genuinely can’t move on from such a horrific loss.