Bitesize Ethics 2024 Week 4: The Ethics of Griefbots

Date: 17/07/2024
Tutor: Dr Cristina Voinea
Large Language Models brought about a new possibility: the creation of digital personas mimicking deceased individuals, known as ‘griefbots’. These AI-driven chatbots captured the public’s attention, with companies like “You, Only Virtual” and “HereAfter AI” spearheading the growing digital afterlife industry. In this talk I explore the ethical implications of the use of griefbots, with a specific emphasis on their potential impact on the bereaved. I start by showing that although grief is often painted in a negative light, as it can negatively affect well-being and daily functioning, it fundamentally represents a healthy response to the loss of our loved ones. Against this backdrop, I will then analyze the ethical issues raised by griefbots for the bereaved, by distinguishing them from other methods of memorializing, imagining, or communicating with the deceased. Concluding on a constructive note, I will sketch a set of design criteria aimed at mitigating the risks associated with the use of griefbots while augmenting their potential benefits.