AI And The Future Of Death

Artificial intelligence is changing the way people think about death and how we remember those who have passed, as reported in a new research analysis by The Conversation.

The Conversation notes how AI is playing a role in how we manage our digital legacy. Companies like Apple, Google, and Meta have tools that give a trusted person access to your online accounts after death.

Microsoft has even patented a system that uses digital data – from emails to social media posts – to create a chatbot that mimics the deceased’s communication style, as previously reported by The Washington Post. This technology gives people a way to interact with a virtual version of their deceased loved ones.

The Conversation reports that following this trend, media companies in South Korea created a documentary called “Meeting You,” which reunited a mother with her deceased daughter through virtual reality.

Using advanced digital imaging and voice technology, the mother could see and talk to a VR avatar of her daughter, as previously reported by The Korea Times.

However, The Conversation notes that the rise of digital immortality raises important questions about the ownership and responsibility of one’s virtual persona. For instance, it asks who has control over your digital presence after death.

In the U.S., many states have passed laws allowing people to include digital accounts in their wills. In Germany, courts ruled that a deceased person’s social media accounts should be treated like property, granting their family access, reports The Conversation.

But issues remain. For example, what if an AI version of you says or does something you would never have? Who is responsible when an AI misrepresents a person?

Additionally, The Conversation notes that creating AI versions of people can be expensive, often costing thousands of dollars. This creates a situation where only the wealthy can afford to live on digitally, raising concerns about new forms of inequality.

While some people find comfort in maintaining a connection to the deceased, psychologists warn that interacting with digital versions of loved ones could make it harder to move on and accept their loss, as reported by The Conversation.

As AI technology advances, this new form of grieving may complicate how people cope with death.