The Daily Prompt

Introduction

I wrote a thought-piece a few weeks back about the idea of using AI voice-cloning services to keep a loved one’s memory alive. I also speculated that the voice companions we watched in the movie “Her” (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) would inevitably lead to robotics and synthesized real world companions, kinda like better versions of a C3PO or Wall-E. So it was a pleasant/unsettling surprise to see the trailer of “SUNNY” - no relations to our own mascots - where the deceased husband, a robotics engineer, trains and leaves behind an AI companion for his wife.

I’ll leave the reviews and recommendations of the series for others, but it was fitting to come across this imagined world while I was writing today’s Daily Prompt, which is all about AI in the afterlife. Specifically the emotional benefits and inevitable tolls.

And in a world where artificial intelligence can seemingly resurrect the dead, grief is taking on a new dimension, blurring the lines between life and death.

How AI 'Resurrections' Work

AI startups are using Natural Language Processing and LLMs to train empathetic beings to help out in our time of great sorrow, and while I won’t delve into the countless AI companions popping up every day, I thought I’d introduce you to a few of the companies pioneering AI projects that create digital "resurrections" of individuals who have passed away:

1. Replika: This popular chatbot can mimic people's texting styles, creating a lifelike conversation experience.

2. StoryFile: Based in Los Angeles, StoryFile uses AI to enable people to "talk" at their own funerals. As the company explains, "Before passing, a person can record a video sharing their life story and thoughts. During the funeral, attendees can ask questions and AI technology will select relevant responses from the prerecorded video."

3. Eternos: This US-based company recently made headlines by creating an AI-powered digital afterlife for 83-year-old Michael Bommer. Eternos founder Robert LoCasio states, "I spoke with [Bommer] just days before he passed away and he said, just remember, this was for me. I don't know if they'd use this in the future, but this was important to me."

4. Project December: Founded by Jason Rohrer, this service allows users to chat with AI recreations of both public figures and personal acquaintances.

Potential Benefits and Concerns

Proponents argue that these technologies offer unique benefits for those dealing with loss. Jason Rohrer of Project December notes, "A lot of these people who want to use Project December in this way are willing to try anything because their grief is so insurmountable and so painful to them."

These AI services can potentially:

• Help users find closure

• Allow for the expression of unsaid words to loved ones who died unexpectedly

• Preserve life stories for future generations

However, experts have raised several concerns:

1. Psychological Impact: Alessandra Lemma, consultant at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, warns, "The biggest concern that I have as a clinician is that mourning is actually very important. It's an important part of development that we are able to acknowledge the missing of another person."

2. Privacy and Data Security: Renee Richardson Gosline, senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, points out, "Even if a firm says it will keep data private when someone first signs up, common revisions to terms and conditions, as well as possible changes in company ownership mean that privacy cannot be guaranteed."

3. Ethical Considerations: Questions arise about the ethics of creating digital resurrections, especially without explicit consent from the deceased.

4. Environmental Impact: The AI models powering these services require substantial computational resources, contributing to increased carbon emissions and e-waste.

The Future of Digital Immortality

As this technology evolves, we're likely to see:

• More sophisticated AI models that can better mimic human interaction

• Integration with VR/AR for more immersive experiences

• Debates on the legal and ethical frameworks needed to govern this technology

While some view these AI resurrections as a natural evolution of preserving life stories, others see them as potentially problematic. As Lemma suggests, "In the olden days, if a parent knew they were dying, they would leave boxes full of things that they might want to pass on to a child or a book. So, this might be the 21st-century version of that."

Takeaways

I asked ChatGPT and ClaudeAI to share their thoughts:

Pros:

• Grief Support: These services could provide comfort to those struggling with loss, allowing them to feel a continued connection with loved ones. This may be especially helpful in cases of sudden or unexpected death where people didn't get to say goodbye.

• Legacy Preservation: AI afterlife services offer a new way to preserve personal histories and wisdom for future generations. This could be particularly valuable for families wanting to maintain connections across generations.

• Psychological Preparation: For some, creating their own AI avatar could be a way to confront mortality and prepare psychologically for death.

• New Form of Remembrance: These technologies could offer a more interactive and personalized way of remembering the deceased, beyond traditional methods like photos or videos.

• Potential Therapeutic Applications: Under professional guidance, these tools might be used in grief counseling to help people work through unresolved issues with the deceased.

Cons:

• Disruption of Natural Grieving: As Alessandra Lemma pointed out, there's a risk that these services could interfere with the natural grieving process, potentially keeping people stuck in a state of denial.

• Privacy and Data Security Concerns: The vast amount of personal data required to create these AI avatars raises serious privacy issues, especially if this data falls into the wrong hands or is used for purposes the deceased never intended.

• Psychological Dependence: There's a risk that some users might become overly reliant on these AI avatars, hindering their ability to form new relationships or move forward with their lives.

• Ethical Concerns: Creating an AI version of someone without their explicit consent raises significant ethical questions. There's also the issue of how accurately these AIs represent the deceased person's views and personality.

• Potential for Exploitation: As with any new technology, there's a risk that vulnerable, grieving people could be exploited financially or emotionally by companies offering these services.

• Environmental Impact: The computational resources required to run these AI models have a significant environmental cost, which is an growing concern in our climate-conscious world.

• Blurring of Reality: Prolonged interaction with these AI avatars could potentially blur the line between reality and simulation for some users, especially those who are vulnerable or struggling with mental health issues.

Conclusion

As we stand on the brink of this new frontier, we must grapple with complex questions about the nature of grief, memory, and what it means to truly say goodbye in the digital age.

I know that our local funeral homes and churches are always looking to modernize their services, I wonder if AI companions will be part of the death-care and after-life industries 🤔.

What are your thoughts on AI afterlife services? Would you consider creating a digital version of yourself or a loved one? Would you be concerned that you might create a deep bond, making it difficult once again to say goodbye? Let me know your thoughts.

💍 Get Engaged

Is an AI Coworking & Studios Space in our future? 🤔 Well, if you’ve got the space, gear, or drive, let’s talk! Are you experimenting with ChatGPT or Claude or Gemini or Copilot or MidJourney? Let’s talk! How are you using AI in your business or personal life? Let’s talk!

And finally, if you need professional assistance in integrating AI into your workflow, marketing, or general brand strategy - Let’s Talk!

Stay tuned to Sunshine.fm for more stories, takes, observations, learnings and the latest AI news and updates. And remember, human creativity is irreplaceable—even if a robot tells you otherwise! 🧐