DEADBOTS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3– Sci and Tech)
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.
