How Technology Is Blurring the Lines Between Life and Death

Technology doesn’t just erase the boundary between real life and the virtual realm. It’s also blurring the line between life and death.

AI’s capability to “resurrect” the dead has been actively used in the movie industry. However, human entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds! One of the emerging offerings in the market is the ability to converse with a deceased person. People mourning the loss of loved ones, eagerly turn to these tools when grieving. Being in the state of emotional vulnerability, they often overlook the unusual nature of such interactions. 

These ‘digital’ resurrections are made possible through AI tools that gather information about the deceased. The tools process data from letters, emails, chats, and text messages or ask questions to build a simulated personality. These chatbots mimic the texting style of the person, while some companies now offer video interactions. 

For instance, StoryFile, a Los Angeles-based company, creates AI replicas of people that can “speak” at their own funerals. The videos are pre-recorded and AI technology selects responses to questions from attendees. AI resurrection shares life stories and thoughts in a way that feels interactive. 

The technology has become popular in China, where videos of emotional reunions have sparked heated debates online. Not all users agree that such a technology really helps to overcome loss. It may do more harm than good for emotionally vulnerable people.

Developers call it a therapeutic tool to express unresolved feelings or say a final goodbye. We must leave this behind to move forward. But does it help us process grief naturally? It can have the opposite effect, trapping individuals in their sorrow. Beyond psychological risks, the loss of authenticity is troubling. I am sure, no simulation can truly replace the person we’ve lost. If this is so, does it actually help us heal, or does it keep us stuck in our grief?

#AI #Technology