AI deathbots and the future of grieving in Australia | The Courier ...
Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Access unlimited content and the digital versions of our print editions - Today's Paper. A year after my stepfather died I did something I had never done before.
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I went to his headstone and stood by myself for a few moments, then I started to tell him how I was doing. The act of speaking with the dead is not new, but evolving technologies have started to change a process that has been in place for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
The Rise of Deathbots
Mark Alfano, an associate professor at Macquarie University, co-wrote a paper on the rise of chatbots which imitate those who have died, called deathbots. According to Professor Alfano, deathbots can use data scraped from a person's online profile or by a user voluntarily giving the data to a service to create a computerised version of someone.
The bots can imitate a person's mannerisms, recall their memories (if they have access to them), and even sound like a person.
Interacting with AI Doppelgangers
After signing up to try a deathbot, users are asked a series of questions about their life, from childhood memories to work experiences. The program can imitate responses and engage in conversations, creating a unique experience for users.
Concerns have been raised about how deathbots could potentially change the grieving process in society. Australian Psychological Society President Dr Catriona Davis-McCabe emphasizes that grief is a normal human process that should be treated with care.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence
Professor Katina Michael from the University of Wollongong highlights the significant impact of AI on various aspects of society, comparing it to the impact of the atomic bomb. She discusses the implications of AI on job automation and the changing landscape of social media.
As AI becomes more ubiquitous, experts warn of potential cybersecurity risks and the domination of AI-generated content on the internet. The rise of AI chatbots is reshaping online interactions and content consumption.
The Ethical Concerns
Professor Alfano expresses concerns about the economic polarization in the grief industry due to the accessibility of deathbots. The use of deathbots as a substitute for human connection raises ethical dilemmas surrounding the grieving process.
As technology continues to evolve, the future of grieving and human-AI interactions remains uncertain. The balance between leveraging AI for healing and support versus preserving human connection is crucial in navigating the ethical implications of AI deathbots.
