There are many other cases of entertainment companies and content creators seeking to bring the voice and likeness of famous people back for concerts or movies. Meeting in a virtual reality environment, the woman was able to connect with her daughter in avatar form, seemingly traveling to a version of heaven and holding a birthday party. Some companies -- as well as consumers -- want no part in developing such experiences because it takes liberties with the child's likeness and personality, while others see a chance to provide comfort and closure to families in pain. We sit at the precipice of an entirely new means of content creation, where famous as well as regular people will soon be asked to think about how their voice and image could be used not just today but long after they are gone. Virtual identity will become a currency that should be regarded similar to their physical assets, one in which they can specify their wishes in life and death, and appoint managers and executors to approve its usage moving forward.

Did you miss a session from the Future of Work Summit? With the tremendous advances in how AI/ML technologies are being deployed, one of the most exciting, controversial, and rapidly evolving advances relates to human voice. One particular example jumps out as encapsulating the complex of issues and emotions tied to AI-powered voices. Last summer, AI technology was used to give voice to some of the late Anthony Bourdain's writings, words that he never spoke or read aloud but were nevertheless his; voice cloning technology brought the text to life in Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain. Some in the audience felt duped that it wasn't really Bourdain, others thought the move was a misstep as Bourdain was not alive to give permission to manipulate his voice in such a way, while many felt it was simply a creative storytelling device.