Explore factors affecting students’ acceptance of AI resurrection and ethical dilemmas in AI resurrection technology among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have brought AI resurrection, the digital reconstruction of the deceased closer to reality. Understanding the psychological factors associated with acceptance of this technology is essential for informing its ethical and educational implications. This cross–sectional study investigated Chinese college students’ acceptance of AI resurrection and examined demographic, death-related background factors, and AI-related predictors. A total of 990 valid responses were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.799). Spearman’s correlation and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between variables and acceptance levels across five hypothetical scenarios. Higher AI engagement and stronger perceived harm predictability were positively associated with acceptance of AI resurrection technologies, whereas fear of AI demonstrated scenario–dependent effects. Participants who had experienced the death of loved ones or studied medicine showed greater acceptance. Nearly half of the respondents (47.9%) believed that both the deceased’s and family’s wishes should be considered in resurrection decisions. Cognitive and affective factors were associated with individuals’ acceptance of AI resurrection technologies. These findings contribute to understanding human-AI interaction in existential contexts and emphasize the importance of consent and data protection in future applications.