LA Comic Con Brings AI-Powered Stan Lee Hologram to Life, Raising Questions About Digital Legacy and Ethics

LA Comic Con's AI-Powered Stan Lee Hologram Sparks Outrage Last week, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that LA Comic Con would be featuring an "AI Stan Lee hologram" at its upcoming event. The life-sized, AI-powered avatar of the late Marvel Comics creator is set to appear in a private booth for a fee of $15-$20 per person. The instant reaction from fans and media outlets was overwhelmingly negative. Critics called the concept "demonic," "incredibly disrespectful," and "ghoulish." The AV Club urged readers not to pay to see what it described as "the anguished digital ghost of a beloved comic book creator, repurposed as a trap for chumps!" LA Comic Con's CEO, Chris DeMoulin, defended the decision to feature the AI hologram. "We urge critics to come see the AI-powered hologram for themselves before rushing to judgment," he said in an interview. The use of AI technology to create a digital replica of Stan Lee is not new. Companies like DeepMotion and Cubic Motion have been developing similar projects, using machine learning algorithms to analyze and replicate human movements and expressions. However, the application of this technology to recreate a deceased celebrity has raised concerns about the ethics of digital resurrection. The concept of AI-powered holograms raises questions about the boundaries between life and death, and what it means to be remembered after passing away. "This is not just about Stan Lee; it's about the commodification of memory," said Dr. Kate Darling, a researcher at MIT who studies the intersection of technology and society. The LA Comic Con event will take place this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The AI-powered Stan Lee hologram will be available for viewing in a private booth, but attendees must pay the fee to interact with it. As the use of AI technology continues to advance, questions about its implications on society are becoming increasingly relevant. "We need to have a conversation about what we're comfortable with and what we're not," said Dr. Darling. The LA Comic Con event will provide an opportunity for attendees to engage with the AI-powered hologram and share their thoughts on this emerging technology. The debate surrounding the use of digital resurrection is far from over, and it remains to be seen how society will respond to this new frontier in AI development. Background: Stan Lee passed away in 2018 at the age of 95. Since then, his legacy has continued to inspire fans around the world. The use of AI technology to recreate him raises questions about the ethics of digital resurrection and what it means to be remembered after passing away. Additional Perspectives: Some experts argue that the AI-powered hologram is a tribute to Stan Lee's legacy and a way for fans to continue engaging with his work. Others see it as an example of the exploitation of celebrity culture, where deceased individuals are used for commercial gain without their consent. The LA Comic Con event will provide a platform for attendees to share their thoughts on this emerging technology and its implications on society. As the debate surrounding digital resurrection continues, one thing is clear: the use of AI technology is pushing the boundaries of what we consider possible in the entertainment industry. Current Status and Next Developments: The LA Comic Con event will take place this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The AI-powered Stan Lee hologram will be available for viewing in a private booth, but attendees must pay the fee to interact with it. As the use of AI technology continues to advance, questions about its implications on society are becoming increasingly relevant. *Reporting by Arstechnica.*