IEEE Establishes New Guidelines to Regulate AI-Generated Digital Humans
New York, Friday, 3 April 2026.
To combat legal ambiguities, a newly launched IEEE standard establishes essential ethical boundaries for using artificial intelligence to commercially recreate deceased individuals as digital humans.
Bridging the Gap Between Technology and the Law
On April 3, 2026, the industry saw the introduction of IEEE/P2048.121, formally known as the Standard for General Technical Requirements for Service-oriented Digital Humans Based on Artificial Intelligence [1]. This framework is designed to address the growing legal ambiguities surrounding AI-generated digital humans, particularly when recreating the deceased [1]. As legal and ethical frameworks consistently lag behind rapid technological advancements, especially concerning posthumous publicity rights, this standard serves as a crucial intermediary layer [1]. It establishes foundational technical rules across systems to constrain risks while broader legislative frameworks continue to evolve [1].
From Visual Novelty to Scalable Infrastructure
The push for standardization also carries significant implications for the business and technology markets. On March 31, 2026, Shinshot Media Inc., a company championing a “Film × AI” model, announced its leading role in drafting the new IEEE standard [1][2]. The company’s involvement underscores a strategic market shift from application-driven innovation toward the shaping of global technical frameworks [2]. By integrating production, distribution, and interactive systems, Shinshot Media aims to bring practical, real-world commercial scenarios into the standard-setting process [2].
Shaping the Future of Human-Computer Interaction
As these digital humans evolve, they are increasingly supported by complex networks of AI agents, positioning them as the primary front-end gateways to various digital services [2]. Task-oriented agents are rapidly adopting these human-like interfaces, making human-computer interaction more intuitive but also more fraught with ethical complexities [2]. The commercial deployment of these front-end gateways means that ensuring privacy, security, and ethical compliance is no longer just a legal necessity, but a foundational business requirement [GPT].