“Artificial Intelligence and Immortality: Is it Safe to Create a Digital Copy of a Deceased Loved One?”

Audio Avatar Industry: Revolution in Communication or “Endless Grief” Trap?

Modern artificial intelligence technologies allow for the creation of digital “doubles” of the deceased, who can communicate with their loved ones after death. This phenomenon is becoming increasingly popular but raises serious ethical questions.

Generative artificial intelligence has expanded possibilities in the realm of grief, enabling the creation of so-called “grief-bots” or “death-bots.” These digital avatars, which can take the form of text chat-bots, video, or voice avatars, are trained on data collected during people’s lifetimes. Such “doubles” not only help loved ones cope with loss but are sometimes perceived as a continuation of communication with the deceased. However, not all experts find this beneficial.

Services offering “grief-bots” do so partly to help relatives cope with loss. Some companies offer to create a digital “double” while the person is still alive. There are services that store your data so someone can interact with your digital copy. While this practice may be accompanied by reassurance, critics warn against forming a psychological atmosphere of “endless grief.”

Discussions about ethics and psychological consequences are intertwined with questions about personal data security. How can information be protected from theft or misuse? What role does the right to be forgotten play in the digital age? These questions are becoming topics of discussion not only among small circles of experts but also among the general public.