Creepy AI Chatbots of the Dead: How Virtual Reincarnation Could Lead to Unwanted Digital Haunting
AI chatbots simulating deceased loved ones have become a growing trend, raising concerns about the potential psychological impacts on the bereaved individuals. Experts have warned that these so-called “ghostbots” could not only haunt their living family members online but also manipulate them emotionally. Online platforms now offer the eerie capability to simulate the language patterns and personality traits of the deceased based on their digital footprint.
Virtual Reincarnation: A New Wave of Digital Technologies
Recent years have witnessed a surge in platforms that allow people to virtually reincarnate their lost relatives through AI chatbots. These technologies aim to provide a farewell gift for loved ones who may struggle to cope with their grief in traditional ways.
Potential Psychological Risks and Safety Measures
However, researchers at Cambridge University have highlighted the need for additional safety measures to safeguard users from potential psychological harm. They emphasize the importance of considering the rights and consent of both the deceased individual being recreated and those who will interact with the AI simulation.
The Dark Side of Digital Afterlife Services
The study from Cambridge’s Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence points out the high-risk nature of using AI chatbots for digital afterlife services. Concerns include the possibility of companies exploiting deadbots for advertising purposes, causing distress to children, or even spamming surviving family members with unsolicited notifications from the deceased.
Ethical Considerations and Dignified Endings
As generative AI technology advances rapidly, researchers stress the ethical implications of digital immortality and the dignity of the deceased. They propose age restrictions for deadbots, meaningful transparency for users, and a mechanism for retiring deadbots in a dignified manner, possibly through a digital funeral.
Looking Ahead: Mitigating Social and Psychological Risks
It is crucial to start considering ways to mitigate the potential social and psychological risks associated with digital immortality. The researchers urge a balance between honoring the rights of data donors and ensuring the well-being of individuals who interact with AI afterlife services.