Science Quickly Griefbots Offer AI Connections with Deceased Loved Ones
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Apr 30, 2025 
Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basińska, a research fellow at the Leverholm Center for the Future of Intelligence, dives into the intriguing world of griefbots—AI chatbots that imitate deceased loved ones. She discusses their growing popularity and the ethical dilemmas they present, such as consent and privacy concerns. Katarzyna explores how different cultures perceive digital immortality and the technological advancements that make these griefbots possible. She sheds light on the potential risks and emotional impacts for those engaging with this technology.
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Researcher's Digital Immortality Origin
- Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basińska discovered grief bots during a student assignment and became fascinated by digital immortalization.
- Her interest evolved into a decade-long academic career focusing on this topic.
How Grief Bots Work
- Generative AI now enables creating realistic post-mortem avatars using personal videos, messages, and audio.
- These avatars respond based on sophisticated prediction algorithms to mimic the deceased.
Digital Afterlife Industry Overview
- The digital afterlife industry mainly operates through post-mortem avatars and holograms.
- The US leads in developing and marketing digital immortality services globally.