The murky ethics of digital resurrection

数字复活的模糊伦理

Round Table China

2025-11-03

20 分钟
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Digital resurrection has arrived, but its ethics are dangerously unclear. The recent use of a recreated scholar to promote tea brought about a question that didn't exist a decade ago. Is this a legitimate tribute, or a commercial exploitation of the dead? The urgent question is no longer can we do this, but should we? / Motivational Monday (17:07)! On the show: Steve, Yushan & Yushun
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  • Discussion keeps the world turning.

  • This is Round Table, I'm Steve Hatherly joined today by Youshun and Youshan.

  • Coming up, the era of digital resurrection has begun,

  • blurring the line between a meaningful tribute and a disturbing violation.

  • This ethical crisis was sparked when a tea company here in China used a recreated version of a late scholar to sell a product.

  • Yes, I put that in question form on purpose.

  • But it leaves us to wonder, is that okay?

  • Or do lines need to be drawn to protect the rights of those who have passed.

  • and now.

  • The emergence of AI capable of resurrecting the voices and images of the deceased presents a pretty big ethical dilemma.

  • Yes, the tech is there and yes, it is impressive.

  • But while it offers powerful new tools for preserving legacy and facilitating grief,

  • it simultaneously forces us to confront really urgent questions about consent and dignity and commercial exploitation.

  • A recent campaign featuring a digitally-digitally-recreased late tea scholar.

  • It was used by a tea company here in the country.

  • It's ignited this very debate and it makes us ask where exactly should we draw the line between what is a meaningful tribute and on ethical use.

  • This is a really kind of interesting story.

  • So tell us what that story is.

  • So this story, as you mentioned it in this one minute long video,

  • Zhang Tianfu, who is a renowned tea scholar in China,