Context: A new study urges caution in the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots designed to mimic deceased loved ones, known as ‘deadbots’.

Deadbots

• About: These are AI-enabled digital representations of departed loved ones, utilizing various data sources to simulate their personalities.
• Also known as: Griefbots,
• Microsoft's Patent: In 2017, Microsoft obtained a patent for a deadbot capable of digitally "resurrecting" the deceased.
• Challenges

o Psychological Impact: Limited understanding of the psychological effects of digital immortality on adults and their grieving processes.

o Economic and Emotional Issues: Concerns about profit-driven exploitation of personal data, emotional manipulation, and privacy violations.

o Cultural Sensitivity: Delicate topics of death, grief, and immortality, varying greatly across cultures.

• Solutions

o Sensitive Procedures: Developing procedures for the "retirement" of deadbots to respect the grieving process.

o Transparency: Implementing clear disclaimers regarding the risks and capabilities of deadbots.

o Access Restrictions: Restricting access to deadbots to adult users only.

• Mutual Consent: Upholding the principle of mutual consent between data donors and recipients in the re-creation project.