Digital Afterlife: Hollywood & Tech

AI set to reshape film and TV production from script to screenDisney+ eyes user-generated AI videos despite IP lawsuitsKevin Reilly to helm AI startup Kartel as entertainment and tech worlds convergeNew Dutch AI time‑travel series from Tilly Norwood creatorsBeta Film launches AI startup Chapter41 with industry veteransAmazon Prime Video introduces AI-powered video recaps for original seriesEros Innovation raises $150m to power AI media platformGinger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a writer and researcher on technology and entertainment, an MFA photographer and filmmaker, and host of the podcast Digital Afterlife: Hollywood & Tech.

Startups working in the death tech or grief tech industry have designed different approaches that enable users to communicate with the dead, via text, video, audio, or photorealist avatars. The technology represents a recent shift from photography to artificial intelligence as a tool for remembering the deceased.Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a writer and researcher on technology and entertainment, an MFA photographer and filmmaker, and host of the podcast The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

The rise of posthumous AI avatars represents a major shift in how technology interacts with death. What began as memorial tools allowing loved ones to interact with digital recreations of the deceased has evolved into an expanding commercial industry. The digital afterlife market is expected to quadruple in the next decade, reaching $80 billion, driven by advances in avatar technology.Ginger Liu MFA is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a writer and researcher on technology and entertainment, a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker, and host of the podcast The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

OpenAI Targets Hollywood with AI Films as New InvestmentWarner Bros. sues AI company Midjourney for copyright infringementThe global AI avatar marketAnthropic agrees to pay $1.5 billion in copyright settlementThe global AI avatar market was valued at $7.41 billion in 2024. It is expected to grow from $9.78 billion in 2025 to $118.55 billion by 2034.OpenAI is making its Hollywood debut by backing Critterz, an animated feature largely created with artificial intelligence.Ginger Liu MFA is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a writer and researcher on technology and entertainment, a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker, and host of the podcast The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

North America dominates AI film market with $500m in revenue and a 40% global share. Moonvalley Unveils Marey AI Video Tool for Filmmakers. AI to restore 100 classic kung fu films and debut first fully AI-made animated feature.Denmark to introduce new copyright law targeting deepfakesBBC threatens legal action against Perplexity for unauthorized content useEquity warns legal action over actors scanned without consentJudge rules in favour of Meta in AI copyright lawsuit by authorsGinger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

Google Study Examines Risks of Using AI to Replicate the DeceasedThe Digital Afterlife Startup Craze and The Digital Afterlife of HollywoodA growing wave of startups has promised to keep conversations alive with loved ones long after they are gone by creating custom AI agents that do more than replay old memories, but generate entirely new conversations.Startups building AI digital replicas are riding a wave of explosive growth as the generative AI market surges toward an estimated $62.7 billion in 2025, with projections showing the broader AI industry reaching as high as $757 billion this year and potentially $3.6 trillion by 2034.Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

Largo.ai, Backed by Sylvester Stallone, Partners with Brilliant Pictures to Launch World’s First Fully AI-Automated Film CompanyAuschwitz Memorial Unveils Digital Replica Project for Virtual Film Location at Cannes MarketEurope’s Film and TV Dubbers Fight with AIFactors Driving Growth in the AI Film MarketWriting Lessons from an AI-Resurrected Agatha ChristieSoundcloud Faces Backlash But Denies Training AI Using Artists' WorkMeta Removes Fake AI Ads Featuring Jamie Lee Curtis After She Appeals Directly to ZuckerbergGinger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

AI-Powered Digital Twins of Deceased Loved Ones, AI twins serving as mentors, tutors, or interactive textbooks, New Oscar Rules for AI, Arcana Labs AI Film Production Takes on HollywoodIn Europe, the Paris AI Policy Action summit in February failed to deliver significant regulation. In the United States, the new administration’s March directive from the National Institute of Standards and Technology removed references to “AI safety” and “AI fairness.” At the same time, Meta and other platforms have dismantled fact-checking operations, fueling a wave of AI-generated video content that is overwhelming the internet, with some pieces drawing hundreds of millions of views.Film & TV Marketing Gets a Boost from AI Eye-TrackingSAG-AFTRA’s New Commercials Deal Puts AI in CheckNatasha Lyonne Makes Feature Directorial Debut with AI Sci-Fi FilmArcana Labs AI Film Production Takes on HollywoodNew Oscar Rules for AIAI-Powered Digital Twins of Deceased Loved OnesGinger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

Generative AI is changing how people use photography to grieve and remember. Instead of static images, photos of the deceased are now animated to move and speak, giving families new ways to connect with lost loved ones. While some find comfort in these digital interactions, others question their authenticity and impact. This shift challenges more than a century of photographic tradition, altering how we process loss and keep memories alive.Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

California Lawmakers Examine Potential Risks of AI ChatbotsAdobe Invests in Synthesia, the Startup Creating AI Clones for Corporate VideosThe Wizard of Oz Like You’ve Never Seen It BeforeElevenLabs, OpenAI, and DeepMind Invest in Startup Creating AI FilmsYouTube Supports ‘No Fakes Act’Shutterstock Partners with AI-Based Corporate Video CompanyAI Video Generation Startup, Runway, Closes $308M Funding RoundGinger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief

MPA Demands Copyright Protection for AI ContentAI-Dubbed ‘Watch the Skies’ Secures AMC Theatres ReleaseH&M to Use AI-Generated Digital Clones in AdsU.S. Copyright Office Releases Report on Copyrightability of AI-Generated WorksChatGPT’s Ghibli-style AI images raise copyright concernsChatgpt’s Ghibli-style AI images raise copyright concernsGinger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief

A new research report from MIT Technology Review Insights highlights how AI is revolutionizing and accelerating media production while making creative tools more accessible. However, the study also points out that the media industry continues to face significant hurdles as it adapts to this technological shift. The report explores the transformative impact of AI on content creation and distribution while acknowledging the complexities and challenges that arise from integrating these advanced technologies into established media workflows and business models.Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

Entertainment Leaders Warn Against Weakening Copyright for AIShowbiz Contracts: Adapting to the AI RevolutionAI-Generated Art Loses Copyright Battle in US Appeals CourtSpanish Regulators Target Unlabeled AI Content with FinesMeta Faces Copyright Lawsuit from France’s Creative IndustryDeepfake Technology Market to Hit $13.9 Billion as Entertainment and Media Embraces AIPreserving Documentary Accuracy in the Age of Unregulated AIGinger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

AI-Generated Artwork Granted Copyright ProtectionCourt Sides with Creators in Landmark AI Copyright CaseLegal Frameworks for AI-Created Intellectual PropertyNetflix Faces Criticism for AI Voice Recreation in Petito DocumentaryStoryfile Emerges from Chapter 11Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

The death tech industry is a lucrative business worth $126B. Companies like StoryFile, Replika, and Hereafter AI provide different platforms that service legacy creation and, by extension, service our grief. Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a PhD researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

The ethics of creating a virtual version of someone are complex. Who owns the data and what about consent? Feeding the digital afterlife zeitgeist are tech giants who are eager to build a synthetic heaven where big egos go to die. As we jump into an AI-driven future, the stories, memories, and voices of the past continue to resonate within the algorithms of our digital world. Whatever technology we use, the essence of human connection and the significance of genuine memories remain central to human agency. Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a Ph.D. Researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media — specifically grief tech, digital afterlife, AI, death and mourning practices, AI, and photography. Education, research, and policy. Entrepreneur, author, writer, artist photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

A round-up of the year's generative AI news. Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

Grief tech is changing the way we communicate with our deceased loved ones and how we cope with their passing. Our digital footprint, such as texts, photos, videos, emails, and social media accounts keeps us connected to the people close to us and worldwide. AI voice cloning creates digital replicas of a human voice by analyzing and mimicking speech patterns such as accent, tone, and pitch. AI industry growth exceeded $40 billion in the US in 2022 and is estimated to reach $1.3 trillion over the next decade. According to a recent report, the Chatbots for Mental Health and Therapy Market will be worth $1.71 Bn by 2031. These offer support, direction, and assistance for mental health issues, including grief. Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s ⁠Ginger Media & Entertainment,⁠ a researcher and reporter in artificial intelligence and entertainment — specifically grief tech, digital afterlife, AI, death and mourning practices, AI and photography, security, and policy, and an ⁠author,⁠ writer, ⁠artist⁠ photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the ⁠Podcast⁠ — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

The grieftech industry thinks so... The death tech industry is a lucrative business worth $126B. Companies like StoryFile, Replika, and Hereafter AI provide different platforms that service legacy creation and by extension service our grief. Michael Bommer is the latest person to create a digital replica of him likeness which will interact with his family after he has passed away. Bommer, a German startup engineer, has terminal cancer. He collaborated with California-based AI legacy startup Eternos. life, one of the latest platforms in the digital afterlife space, or so I thought. The collaboration made global news and raised ongoing questions about the ethical implications of using big tech to create and manage the afterlife. Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher and journalist in artificial intelligence and visual arts media — specifically grief tech, digital afterlife, AI, death and mourning practices, AI and photography, biometrics, security, and policy, and an author, writer, artist photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.

It’s a win-win for the estates of some of Hollywood’s biggest 20th-century stars while the Digital Replica Act aims to prevent AI-generated replicas of artists without prior consent. Hollywood Stars Have New IP Life with AISAG-AFTRA Thanks California AI Artist Protection Legislation Hollywood Teams With Holocaust Museum L.A. to Launch Augmented-Reality APP AI Death Tech Company Eternos Creates Digital Replicas of the Dying No Opt Out for Meta Artists in Latin America but Brazil Fights Back AI COPIED Act Would Protect Artists and Journalists' Content Video Platforms Enforce AI Content Labeling Sony Pictures CEO Aims to Cut Costs with AI Artists Protect Work from Generative AI Theft Jackie Chan is the Latest Actor to get AI De-Aged Treatment Fashion Brand Mango Creates Campaign with AI CNN Will Layoff 100 Staffers to be Replaced by AI Research Finds Generative AI Supports Creativity but Hinders Originality Ginger Liu is the founder of Ginger Media & Entertainment, a Writer/Researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media — specifically Hollywood, death tech, digital afterlife, AI death and grief practices, AI photography, entertainment, security, and policy, and an author, writer, artist photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief. Ginger Liu is a writer who covers the latest developments in artificial intelligence, entertainment, and art.