Preface

Years ago, I had the privilege of participating in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) products. This experience prompted me to consider an important question: how can AI not only improve our lives but also protect human emotions to prevent being replaced or confused by AI? As the application of AI technology becomes increasingly widespread, we can see its impact across various fields.

Recently, I watched two movies, “The Last Dance 破地獄” and “Wonderland夢境,” which deeply explore the themes of life and death, familial bonds, and the influence of AI technology. As a designer who has lost both parents, I have many complex and profound thoughts about the relationship between death and technology.

First, let me briefly introduce these two films. “The Last Dance” directly explores the themes of life and death through its portrayal of the funeral industry, showcasing people’s fear of death and their appreciation for life. The complex emotional relationships between the characters made me realize that even in the face of death, love and understanding remain paramount. After someone passes away, there is no way to compensate for the regrets left behind, aside from rituals that help fill the void of longing for the deceased. In contrast, “Wonderland” is a South Korean sci-fi film that examines how virtual reality technology allows people to interact with deceased loved ones again.

The “Wonderland” service in the film enables users to communicate with those who have passed away or are near death, raising many emotional and ethical dilemmas. The characters in the story grapple with the pain of loss and attempt to use technology to address these regrets.

In this challenging and reflective era, we need to delve deeper into the emotional impact of AI and how to maintain humanity and emotional authenticity amidst technological advancements.

We are currently transitioning from the era depicted in “The Last Dance 破地獄” to that of “Wonderland夢境.”

Current society is experiencing a transition from confronting the reality of death, as depicted in “The Last Dance,” to a technological reconstruction of the concept of death, as seen in the virtual interactions in “Wonderland.”

In “The Last Dance,” death is viewed as an inevitable reality that must be accepted, and the characters confront the loss of loved ones and friends through rituals and emotional exchanges. The film deeply explores people’s varying attitudes toward death, reflecting that even at the end of life, love and understanding remain paramount. The emotional connections established by the characters within the funeral industry make death not just an ending, but a part of interpersonal relationships.

In contrast, “Wonderland 夢境” showcases how technology redefines death. In the film, through artificial intelligence technology, the living can engage in virtual interactions with deceased or dying loved ones, transforming death from an ending into a presence that can be reinterpreted. While this technological advancement offers a possibility to soothe the pain of longing, it also blurs the definition of death.

In reality, we have already witnessed many similar services, such as AI digital human technology, which allows us to interact with deceased loved ones. While these technologies create new emotional connections, they also prompt us to rethink the meaning of death in today’s world. In this rapidly evolving technological era, we need to confront not only how to utilize these technologies but also how to understand and accept death itself.

Changes in people’s feelings about death — the boundaries of death are becoming unclear.

People’s emotional responses to death, especially under the influence of technology, show significant differences. In “The Last Dance,” death is viewed as a reality that must be faced. The characters, after experiencing loss, express their emotions through traditional funeral rituals. These rituals serve not only as a farewell to the deceased but also as an important process for the living to heal themselves.

In confronting death, individuals typically go through a range of emotions, including shock, denial, grief, and guilt. This cultural emphasis on death allows the characters to find resonance and support in their mourning, as they understand that those who have passed cannot return. They can only seek solace through certain mementos, such as the ashes of the deceased kept in a necklace, to cope with their feelings of longing.

In contrast, “Wonderland” redefines death through technological fantasy. In the film, after Bai Li passes away, her daughter interacts with her virtual image using the “Wonderland” service, leading her to mistakenly believe that her mother has simply gone abroad. Jing Lin applies for the Wonderland service, setting Tai Zhu as an “astronaut” sent to distant outer space. This virtual interaction immerses her daily in Tai Zhu’s care and humor, as if he is still by her side.

By escaping the pain and emptiness of reality through “Wonderland,” death is no longer seen as an end but as a presence that can be simulated and continued. The film illustrates a future where AI technology allows people to reconnect with deceased loved ones through video calls, creating a comforting illusion that they are still alive and engaged in their lives.

However, this scenario may cause individuals to become overly dependent on virtual existence when facing death, potentially leading to a neglect of genuine emotional connections in the real world. Ultimately, such reliance can create confusion about what is real and may heighten psychological distress. As technology continues to evolve, it is essential to reevaluate our understanding of death and seek a balance between the virtual and the tangible. This balance is crucial for maintaining an authentic comprehension of both life and death.

In current society, numerous studies indicate that the younger generation’s attitudes toward death are changing. For instance, one study suggests that Generation Z is more willing than older generations to discuss death and create life wish lists. This openness may stem from platforms like social media, which have made discussions about death no longer taboo. What was once considered off-limits has become truly unrestricted. However, despite this newfound openness, fears and anxieties surrounding death still persist

In this era filled with challenges and contemplation, we need to delve into the impact of AI on emotional aspects and explore how to maintain humanity and emotional authenticity alongside technological advancement.

Does technology compensate for regrets, or does it deepen the pain?

Technology can, to some extent, compensate for people’s regrets about the deceased, especially through AI technology that simulates the voices or images of those who have passed away, allowing the living to maintain a connection to them. In the film “Wonderland 夢境,” this technology provides emotional comfort but also raises ethical considerations. Does such technology lead people to overlook the true meaning of death? In reality, could it result in the alienation of interpersonal relationships?

However, an overreliance on these virtual existences may lead to emotional confusion for the living. When people interact with virtual characters for extended periods, they may struggle to distinguish between reality and the virtual world. For example, in “Wonderland,” the character Tai Zhu miraculously awakens but finds it difficult to adapt to real life, with his personality and attitude changing, highlighting the contradiction between the virtual existence created by technology and real life. This compels the audience to ponder: does such a reunion truly heal the loss, or does it plunge individuals into another form of loneliness?

AI resurrection technology may interfere with the normal grieving process, preventing individuals from fully mourning. Grief is a gradual unfolding process that includes stages such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, and AI-generated images may complicate this process. Therefore, while it may provide some degree of comfort in the short term, long-term reliance on virtual existence could lead to deeper levels of suffering.

The future role of designers: balancing ethics and technology.

The emergence of AI presents new challenges and opportunities for designers. Designers must not only serve as a bridge between AI and users but also find a balance between ethics and technology. In this process, design is not just about creating products; it is also about how to influence important decisions that affect human lives.

When designing AI products, designers must consider their impact on users’ psychology and emotions. For example, in “Wonderland,” the protagonists deepen their suffering due to reliance on virtual existence, reflecting the consequences of technology leading to escapism. In contrast, the final dance between siblings in “Breaking Hell” resolves their inner conflicts and regrets, highlighting the importance of confronting reality. These examples emphasize that designers must take into account ethics, emotions, and empathy throughout the creative process.

Designers should leverage technology to promote interpersonal interaction and help humanity solve various problems, but they also need to consider whether AI can solve all issues. For instance, are the virtual characters in “Wonderland” truly effective solutions? The design process must account for the ethical, emotional, and relational consequences. Amid the challenges posed by AI technology, designers have the opportunity to redefine their professional roles. Through continuous learning and innovation, they can view AI as a tool to enhance creativity and efficiency rather than a replacement. This requires designers to possess critical thinking skills to identify and avoid potential biases and ethical dilemmas.

At the same time, with the development of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality, designers will face new challenges, such as how to interact with others in virtual environments and how to create and convey shared experiences. These challenges demand creativity and social intelligence — skills that are difficult for AI to replicate.

Self-reflection : A true farewell is not about relying on technology, but about learning to live well with memories and love

As I reflected on my own experience of losing my parents when watching these two films about life and death, I gained a deep understanding that death is not just a part of life, but is also an important factor that makes us cherish the present.

As a designer, in this context, the development of AI technology prompts me to consider how we can use these tools to improve interpersonal relationships and emotional connections, rather than allowing ourselves to become lost in the virtual world. With the advancement of AI technology, we can interact with deceased loved ones through virtual existence, which provides a certain degree of emotional comfort.

However, this also raises new reflections on the meaning of death: can technology extend our connection with the deceased? Can such interactions truly compensate for the pain of loss? In “Wonderland,” the characters communicate with the dead through a virtual world, only to discover that this connection cannot replace real interpersonal relationships. Death reminds us of the fragility and finiteness of life.

While AI technology can simulate emotions, it cannot replace genuine emotional exchanges between humans. In the design process, I aspire to create products that promote authentic connections rather than replace them. This realization leads me to understand that ultimately, what we need is to appreciate and cherish the people around us, rather than rely on virtual technology to fill emotional voids.

Ultimately, I realize that while technology has the potential to compensate for regrets, it also comes with ethical and psychological challenges. We need to carefully consider how to enjoy the conveniences that technology brings without neglecting a profound understanding of death and its meaning. Death is an unavoidable reality that we must learn to accept, seeking meaning in our lives despite it. Cherishing every moment with our loved ones is not only a respect for life but also a way of living that emerges from a deep understanding of death. In this rapidly changing era, it is only by doing so that we can truly appreciate the value and beauty of life.

Medium : https://medium.com/@jefferyhung/from-life-and-death-to-virtuality-cherishing-and-reflecting-in-the-age-of-ai-58352e71e8a2

Chinese Version : https://jefferyhung.design/blog/from-life-and-death-to-virtuality-cherishing-and-reflecting-in-the-age-of-ai-chinese