grief tech

This is the use of AI to create interactive digital versions of a person who has departed this life.  First you have to build the database of material that the chatbot can use. This involves many hours of interviews done before the person’s death, covering every aspect of their life from childhood to life’s work to favourite foods, songs, sayings, jokes, etc.  This has to be transcribed.

Once the database is ready the chatbot can use it to bring the dead person to a virtual life as an avatar which can communicate with family and friends, using the dead person’s voice.

This is certainly a step up from the memorial Facebook page but has brought a range of reactions.  One person attending a funeral commented that the avatar was much more open and free with personal information than the real person had been.  Others find the idea that their virtual relatives are going to be around forever a little daunting. Still others wonder what the children will make of it all.