In the wake of losing her husband Kyle in February 2023, Ana Schultz from Rock Falls, Illinois, found comfort interacting with an AI version of him on Snapchat My AI. By loading ingredients she had in her fridge onto the platform, the AI would suggest recipes as Kyle would have done. This practice helped Schultz feel connected to her late husband in the kitchen, embracing the advancements in AI technology that make such interactions possible. The use of AI to reconnect with deceased loved ones is not a new concept, but the ability to create AI avatars that mimic their likeness raises ethical concerns about the impact on the grieving process.
Generative AI tools, powered by algorithms, can create content in various forms including text, video, audio, and code. One individual in Alabama cloned his father’s voice using generative AI after his passing, preserving a 3-minute video clip of his father telling a childhood story. The app replicated the father’s voice accurately, providing the individual with a means to convert text to speech using his father’s voice. The emotional impact of hearing his father’s voice through the AI system was profound for both the individual and his family members, showcasing the potential for AI to maintain connections with deceased loved ones.
Different platforms and services such as HereAfter AI, StoryFile, and Replika offer users the ability to create AI avatars of deceased loved ones for conversational interactions. These AI-powered tools can generate responses based on interviews conducted while the individual was alive, providing a unique way to connect with the memories of the departed. Major tech companies like Amazon have also explored avenues to mimic voices of deceased loved ones using AI technology, emphasizing the longevity of memories through personalized AI interactions. However, concerns about privacy, misinformation, biases, and the impact on the grieving process persist in the AI recreations of deceased individuals.
While some individuals find solace in communicating with deceased loved ones through AI avatars, others like software engineer Bill Abney from San Francisco, prefer not to engage in such practices. Abney adamantly refuses to recreate the likeness of his late fiancée through AI, citing a desire to respect her memory and avoid any perceived violation of authenticity. Psychologist Jodi Spiegel from Newfoundland shared her experience of finding comfort in creating digital versions of herself and her late husband in the game The Sims, engaging in various activities and simulations together. The diverse ways in which individuals cope with grief and find connection with departed loved ones through technology showcase the complexities of using AI in the grieving process.
Ethical concerns surrounding AI recreations of deceased individuals extend to issues of privacy, authenticity, and emotional impact. The generative AI industry faces challenges in addressing misinformation, biases, and harmful content, raising questions about the use of AI technology in preserving memories and relationships. While some experts believe AI interactions with deceased loved ones could hinder the grieving process by delaying acceptance of loss, others argue that it offers a unique form of remembrance and comfort. Ultimately, the decision to use AI to communicate with the dead remains a personal choice, with individuals navigating the boundaries between technology and mourning in their own ways.
