Imagine attending a funeral and hearing the deceased speak directly to you, answer your questions, and share their memories. This happened at the funeral of Holocaust educator Marina Smith, who died in 2022.
Thanks to an AI technology company called StoryFile, Smith seemed to interact naturally with family and friends.
The system used a combination of pre-recorded answers and artificial intelligence to create a realistic and interactive experience. This wasn’t just a video. It was more like a real conversation and gave people a new way to feel connected to their loved ones even after they’ve passed away.
virtual afterlife
Technology has already begun to change the way people think about life after death. Several technology companies are helping people manage their digital lives after they die. For example, Apple, Google, and Meta offer tools that allow trusted people to access your online accounts in the event of your death.
Microsoft has patented a system that can take someone’s digital data (texts, emails, social media posts, etc.) and use it to create a chatbot. This chatbot can respond like a real person.
In South Korea, a group of media companies took this idea further. The documentary “Meeting You” depicted a mother reuniting with her daughter through virtual reality. Using advanced digital imaging and audio technology, the mother was able to see and talk to her dead daughter as if she were really there.
These examples may seem like science fiction, but they are real tools available today. As AI continues to advance, the possibility of creating a digital version of a person after death feels closer than ever.
Who owns your digital afterlife?
The idea of a digital afterlife is appealing, but it also raises some big questions. For example, who owns your online accounts after you die?
The issue is already being debated in courts and governments around the world. In the United States, nearly every state has passed laws allowing the inclusion of digital accounts in wills.
A German court has ruled that Facebook must give access to a deceased person’s family members, saying digital accounts should be treated as inheritable property, like a bank account or a home. did.
However, there are still many challenges. For example, what if your digital clone says or does something online that it would never say or do in real life? Who is responsible for the AI version’s behavior?
When a deepfake of actor Bruce Willis appeared in an ad without his permission, it sparked a debate about how people’s digital likenesses are managed and even misused for profit.
Cost is another issue. Some basic tools for managing digital accounts after death are free, but more advanced services can be expensive. For example, creating an AI version of yourself can cost thousands of dollars, meaning that only wealthy people are able to “make a living” digitally. This cost barrier raises important questions about whether digital immortality can create new forms of inequality.
Sadness in the digital world
Losing someone is often painful, but in today’s world, many people are turning to social media to feel connected to those who have passed away. Research shows that a significant proportion of people maintain connections with deceased loved ones on social media.
But this new way of grieving comes with challenges. Unlike physical memories like photos and keepsakes that fade over time, digital memories stay fresh and easily accessible. Sometimes it shows up unexpectedly in your social media feed and brings back emotions when you least expect it.
Some psychologists worry that staying connected to someone’s digital presence can make it difficult to move forward. This is especially true as AI technology becomes more sophisticated. Imagine being able to chat with a digital version of your loved one that feels just like the real thing. While this may seem comforting, it can make it even more difficult for someone to accept and let go of their loss.
Cultural and religious views on digital afterlife
Different cultures and religions have their own perspectives on digital immortality. for example:
The Vatican, the center of the Catholic Church, said digital heritage should always respect human dignity. In the Islamic tradition, scholars are debating how digital remains fit into religious law. In Japan, some Buddhist temples offer digital cemeteries where families can preserve and interact with digital traces of their loved ones.
These examples illustrate how technology is shaped by different beliefs about life, death, and memory. It also highlights the challenge of blending new innovations with long-standing cultural and religious traditions.
Plan your digital legacy
When you think about the future, you’re probably thinking about what you want to accomplish in life, not what will happen to your online accounts when you’re gone. But experts say it’s important to plan for all your digital assets, from social media profiles and email accounts to digital photos, online bank accounts and even cryptocurrencies.
Adding digital assets to your will can help you decide how to manage your accounts after you pass away. You can leave instructions about who can access your account, what needs to be deleted, whether you want to create a digital version of yourself, and more.
You can also decide whether your digital self should “die” after a certain amount of time. These are questions that more and more people will need to think about in the future.
Here are steps you can take to take control of your digital afterlife.
Determine your digital legacy. Consider whether creating a digital self aligns with your personal, cultural, or spiritual beliefs. Discuss your preferences with your loved one. Digital asset inventory and planning. Create a list of all the digital accounts, content, and tools that represent your digital self. Decide how to manage, store, and delete them. Choose a digital executor. Appoint a trusted, tech-savvy person to oversee your digital assets and make your wishes come true. Make your intentions clear to the other person. Make sure your will includes your digital identity and assets. Specify how they will be handled, including storage, usage, and ethical considerations. Include legal and financial aspects in your plan. Be prepared for ethical and emotional implications. Think about how your digital legacy will impact your loved ones. Plan to avoid abuse, secure funding for long-term needs, and align your decisions with your values.
.Digital Pyramid
Thousands of years ago, the Egyptian pharaohs had pyramids built to preserve their heritage. Today, our “digital pyramid” is much more sophisticated and widely available. It’s not just about preserving memories. They can continue to influence the world long after we’re gone.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here.
issued – January 9, 2025 5:56 PM IST
