Remember Me: An Empirical Study on Factors Shaping Attitudes Toward AI Resurrection Technology in China
Lin Shi, Jiayi Xie, Xile Yu, Botu Zhang, Xiaopeng Liu, Xiaotian Han · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · 2026
As a technology blurring traditional boundaries between life and death, artificial intelligence (AI) resurrection technology has attracted growing attention for digitally recreating the deceased. This study examines factors shaping Chinese users’ affective attitudes toward AI resurrection technology by adapting the Artificially Intelligent Device Use Acceptance (AIDUA) framework, incorporating algorithmic trust and fear of death as moderators. Data were collected via online and offline surveys (N = 532) and semi-structured interviews with five experienced users. Structural equation modeling reveals that hedonic motivation and social influence positively predict performance expectancy, whereas anthropomorphic anxiety primarily increases effort expectancy. Moderation analysis shows that algorithmic trust buffers the negative influence of anthropomorphic anxiety on performance expectancy, while fear of death weakens the effects of hedonic motivation and social influence. This study extends the AIDUA literature, advances understanding of AI resurrection technology acceptance in Chinese context, and offers practical implications for its design and governance.