AI Farewell Clips Reimagine Russian Soldiers, Triggering Grief and Debate

BBC reports that Russian families are using AI to create deepfake-style videos and images of soldiers killed or missing in Ukraine, sometimes sold by creators and watched by tens of millions. The clips portray heroes returning home and often omit the war’s violence, provoking both emotional responses and ethical concerns about exploiting grief, the impact on mourning, and the potential for misinformation. Experts warn the psychological effects are unclear, and reactions are divided—some find solace, others see manipulation or commodification of loss.