The development of AI technology for interacting with deceased loved ones raises questions about consent, dignity, and the mourning process. As the sector grows, diverse reactions and ethical dilemmas come to light.
AI Technology for Grief Support Raises Questions and Highlights Diverse Reactions
In recent years, several companies have developed AI technology designed to help mourners interact with digital versions of deceased loved ones. One such innovator is Michael Bommer, a 61-year-old entrepreneur from Berlin terminally ill with colon cancer. Bommer collaborated with Robert LoCascio, CEO of the U.S.-based AI legacy platform Eternos, to create an interactive AI version of himself, allowing his family to engage with his life experiences and insights. This AI model is Eternos’ first project and reflects a growing sector in grief-related technology.
Other notable startups in this field include California-based StoryFile, which uses pre-recorded videos and algorithms to provide answers to users’ questions, and HereAfter AI, which enables users to create a “Life Story Avatar” by sharing their personal stories. Additionally, Project December offers text-based AI simulations of the deceased, while Seance AI provides fictionalized seances.
These technologies elicit varied reactions. Robert Scott from Raleigh, North Carolina, uses AI companion apps like Paradot and Chai AI to simulate conversations with characters reminiscent of his late daughters. While some find these interactions comforting, others, like sociologist Matthias Meitzler, view them as an extension of traditional remembrance practices. However, ethical concerns persist about consent, the dignity of deceased persons, and the integration of such technologies into the capitalist market, as highlighted by researchers Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basinska and Tomasz Hollanek from the University of Cambridge.
Bommer’s wife, Anett, expressed hesitation about using the AI bot after his passing. Their story emphasizes the ongoing debate over whether these digital interactions aid or complicate the mourning process. As more companies enter the grief-technology market, questions about the long-term impacts and ethical implications remain unresolved.
