AI proposes adding a new stage to the 5 stages of grief: The phase of resurrection

Death is an unavoidable certainty, touching everyone we know. Its absolute finality is daunting, unless AI intervenes to redefine it from a period to a comma.

According to NPR, a Chinese company named Silicon Intelligence is crafting lifelike digital avatars of deceased loved ones. These avatars engage in conversations akin to FaceTime from beyond.

Though eerie, this concept is gaining popularity. The quality of these digital clones, much like other AI advancements, hinges on data. They require photos, videos, and voice clips of the deceased, sometimes drawing from social media to shape the avatar's personality.

The irony of using social media data is that people often present an idealized version of themselves online. Hence, a "deadbot" based on someone's Instagram won't likely capture their true essence.

Some of these avatars are internet-connected, enabling them to discuss current events. This raises bizarre scenarios, like a deadbot reacting to news with a deceased person's perspective.

Considering the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—acceptance is pivotal. It signifies embracing the finality of loss, enabling one to move forward. While the ache of missing someone remains, life can resume with fewer thoughts consumed by their absence.

The emergence of deadbots

Digital avatars, or deadbots, are reshaping how we cope with loss. Unlike traditional grieving where one eventually moves on, deadbots offer a perpetual connection. For instance, if I had a deadbot of my grandmother, thoughts of telling her something would lead to launching an iPad call to her digital likeness.

According to NPR, Sun Kai of Silicon Intelligence converses regularly with a deadbot version of his late mother. He views this technology as transcending death, as it allows him to connect with her whenever he thinks of her, blurring the line between life and digital existence.

While the Turing test remains a benchmark for AI, current chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini blur the distinction between human and machine conversations. Although deadbots may not meet this standard, people often anthropomorphize technology, fostering connections with digital entities like Alexa or Siri.

As deadbots potentially become mainstream, appearing on tablets or even at funeral homes through QR codes, society might embrace them as a way to maintain connections with deceased loved ones, despite the inability to physically embrace them.

The digital corpse

The primary concern with deadbots revolves around data privacy. Creating these digital personas requires extensive personal data, a contentious issue given current geopolitical tensions. Despite barriers like US market entry for Chinese firms like Silicon Intelligence, other companies are likely to launch similar services.

Recently, Meta introduced AI tools on Instagram allowing users to manipulate images of their faces, a concept not far removed from creating deadbots using archived social media data from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. It's plausible we'll soon encounter deceased-relative bots on platforms like Facebook Messenger.

Quoting Peter Pan's sentiment, "To die will be an awfully big adventure," death remains certain for the departed and a transformative journey for those they leave behind. While the stages of grief provide structure, the prospect of digital resurrection introduces a potential sixth stage, extending the adventure in ways that warrant careful consideration.