ABSTRACT
In China, where atheism is enshrined in the state ideology, societal discourses on the resurrection remain limited. Yet, the surge in AI resurrection facilitated through generative artificial intelligence has ignited new public debates. This study aims to examine this emerging technology practice and evaluate how the public perceives it as an innovative interaction form of posthumous communication. By conducting a critical discourse analysis of 647 high-quality responses on Zhihu (Quora-type question-and-answer platform), we articulated two dominant discursive models of AI resurrection: public figure-oriented and ordinary individual-oriented. The resurrection of public figures prioritizes institutional protections, whereas the resurrection of ordinary individuals engages with the affective and ritual aspects of grief. Both models not only reflect the advancements in technology but also clash with ethical, legal, emotional, and spiritual quandaries concerning the essence of life and death within a secular Chinese society.
