The growing use of generative artificial intelligence to digitally «resurrect» deceased public figures has sparked ethical concerns worldwide, with families, estate representatives and fans questioning the practice. In Western media, online platforms and creators of synthetic content have used AI tools, including OpenAI’s Sora, to depict iconic figures such as comedian Robin Williams, naturalist Steve Irwin and civil rights leaders Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. speaking, joking or interacting in videos created without their families’ consent.
Critics, advocacy groups and surviving relatives have condemned some of these unauthorized deepfakes as exploitative, arguing that turning deceased people into digital avatars without their permission compromises their dignity and risks distorting historical memory.
Denis Ten’s AI avatar sparks backlash in Kazakhstan
The debate has also reached Kazakhstan, where an AI-generated recreation of Olympic figure skater Denis Ten sparked controversy at the annual Denis Ten Memorial Challenge in Almaty.
Organizers presented a digital avatar of the late athlete that was designed to greet the audience.
The simulation drew criticism on Kazakh social media. Fans and commentators described the avatar as unsettling and inappropriate, with some calling the experiment «cringe-worthy.»
Смотреть в Threads
Many contrasted the synthetic recreation with authentic archival footage of Ten. While original videos evoke a bittersweet sense of loss and preserve cherished memories, critics argued, an AI-generated replica can feel like an artificial and uncomfortable distortion of a beloved national figure.
Смотреть в Threads
Where should the boundaries of digital resurrection lie?
The controversy reflects a broader debate over the ethical limits of AI-generated content. As the technology advances faster than legal protections and social norms can adapt, questions about consent, ownership, dignity and the preservation of historical truth are becoming increasingly urgent.
For many critics and relatives of deceased public figures, honoring someone’s legacy means preserving authentic memories and respecting their dignity — not turning them into digital performers without their approval.