Responsible AI

It is unethical to create a digital duplicate of someone, living or deceased, without their explicit permission. This includes AI chatbots, deepfakes, virtual avatars or any other type of AI-enabled mimicry. This doesn’t just apply to likeness in appearance but also in personality, mannerisms, voice and other personal attributes.

Violation of this principle can lead to severe emotional distress and other harms, as in the case of Jennifer Ann Crecente’s family, who uncovered an AI chatbot on Character.AI mimicking their beloved, deceased family member [1].

One may argue, that it is not possible for deceased people to provide consent. In these situations, the family or the legal successors of the deceased should provide the consent.

Addendum: If the person is deceased, their family or legal successors should provide the consent.

Glossary:

1. Explicit Consent: Refers to a deliberate and voluntary agreement to something, conveyed clearly and unambiguously, often in form of a document or verbal agreement. In case of AI mimicry, it implies that an individual is fully informed about the ways the AI will simulate their likeness and they agree to it.

Relevant News and Articles
[1] https://www.businessinsider.com/girl-murdered-jennifer-ann-crecente-character-ai-chatbot-artificial-intelligence-2024-10