Families across India are relying on AI animated deepfakes to resurrect deceased loved ones for important events
At first glance, it appears to be an ordinary wedding with shehnai in the background. But soon, the music dips and a large screen lights up to reveal a set of gates amidst the clouds. They part, and a staircase emerges. And then a familiar figure descends — someone deceased but now resplendent in wedding regalia, greeting family members, blessing the couple, sometimes even speaking. Across India, some families are using AI animated deepfakes for resurrecting deceased loved ones — also called deadbots or griefbots — in wedding montages, or even conversational avatars in celebratory videos.
In one such video, a sister brings back her brother to attend her wedding. The screen turns into a phone interface flashing ‘calling bhaiya’. The frame zooms out as if connecting two worlds. Her brother walks in wearing a kurta, carrying a gift. Midway, he morphs into wedding attire, dholak in hand, at the sangeet. His sister watches, crying, as the edit folds him into the celebration.
In one such video, a sister brings back her brother to attend her wedding. The screen turns into a phone interface flashing ‘calling bhaiya’. The frame zooms out as if connecting two worlds. Her brother walks in wearing a kurta, carrying a gift. Midway, he morphs into wedding attire, dholak in hand, at the sangeet. His sister watches, crying, as the edit folds him into the celebration.