Living Inheritance or Digital Alienation ? The Ethical Dilemma and Path Selection of the Inheritance of Intangible Cultural Heritage Digital People
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Digital technologies are increasingly used to document, interpret, and disseminate intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and AI-enabled digital humans have emerged as a new medium for its communication and transmission. This study classifies ICH digital humans into three functional types: performance and dissemination, craft-skill replication, and educational assistance. It examines the ethical tensions that arise when the logic of technological reproduction intersects with the people-centred and practice-based character of living heritage transmission. Based on a questionnaire survey conducted between May 10 and June 10, 2026, the study obtained 521 valid responses from participants with different ages, educational backgrounds, and occupations. The questionnaire covered five dimensions: respondent characteristics, perceptions of ICH transmission, awareness and use of ICH digital humans, digital-ethics concerns, and preferences for future governance. The findings point to three interrelated dimensions of potential digital alienation: distortion of cultural content and authenticity through standardised reproduction; structural imbalance in transmission arising from the interaction of technological and commercial pressures; and divergent public evaluations associated with demographic and cognitive differences. In response, the study proposes three pathways: differentiated standards and meaningful participation by ICH bearers; a human-centred human–machine model supported by transparent content review and commercial oversight; and targeted public education that addresses differences in age and educational background. These findings offer empirical insights into the responsible use of digital humans in ICH safeguarding and transmission.
DOI: 10.71204/ryd15635
Authors: Zixuan Huang, Ruimin Wang, Wenxuan Jing
Institution: Beijing City University
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology (arts and humanities)
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7225059788