Fact follows fiction, with a new documentary exploring the sci-fi scenario where loved ones are recreated using artificial intelligence to converse with from beyond the grave. When Angel asked the AI avatar where he was, the chatbot responded, “In hell.”Turning to technology to fill a void left by a partner, parent, or close friend is hardly new. The use of AI “thanabots” has prompted some mental health experts to warn that having a digital avatar of a deceased loved one gets in the way of the grieving process. As Dock explained, interacting with an AI avatar of a deceased person—particularly for a person who is still in the initial stages of denial or shock—may become emotionally dependent on their interactions with an AI avatar of their loved one. “A final consideration that is worth acknowledging is that the use of AI avatars to replicate the likeness of a deceased loved one can potentially be very upsetting for some individuals,” Dock said.

Source: The Nation January 23, 2024 04:06 UTC