A digital avatar of your deceased relatives.

Would you like to talk to your deceased loved one?

Here is a story that at first glance seems incredible, but is real, researchers from the Leverhulme Center for the Future of Intelligence at Cambridge University have explored how AI can be used to create platforms that allow people to talk to people who have already died.

This is calling the digital industry for life after death, these AI Chatbots nicknamed DeathBots or GrieftBots recreate the language and personality of deceased individuals using their fingerprints.

The possible scenarios of this technology.

The study describes a fictional scenario in which a service called MaNana allowed a user to create a digital version of his deceased grandmother without her consent. Initially satisfied, a grandson found comfort when interacting with the DeathBots, however after completing the Premium trial the family members They received advertisements imitating the grandmother's voice and personality, feeling that this was disrespectful. The family member wanted to disconnect the DeathBots regarding the grandmother's memory, but the service providers did not offer an adequate way to do so, leading to feelings of displeasure. and indignation.

Dr Tomasz Hollanek, co-author of the study, emphasizes that we need design protocols to avoid disrespectful use of DeathBots, he even suggests creating digital rituals to remove these Bots in a dignified manner, like a digital funeral.

A booming business.

There are platforms like Project December and HereAfter that recreate the deceased using AI, some companies are also emerging in China where the demand for replicas of deceased loved ones is increasing companies like Silicon intelligence and Superbrain are offering services to recreate digital avatars using photos , videos and audio recordings, according to a report published by MIT.

The cost that previously ran into the thousands of dollars is now within the reach of many, costing only a few hundred dollars, opening the door for more people to consider digital immortality for their loved ones.

As with all new technologies there are significant ethical and legal issues to consider, such as consent, liability and limits on AI replication, these advances in AI bring both opportunities and challenges and this issue is increasingly urgent.

And what do you think about this possibility of talking to deceased loved ones through AI, impressive or terrifying.