AI ‘deadbots’ can fuel pathological grief and affect how we deal with death

Autonomy and Consent: The use of posthumous digital avatars raises ethical dilemmas regarding the autonomy and consent of both the deceased (whose digital traces are used) and their relatives (who decide whether to create and manage avatars).
Data Protection and Privacy: The technology poses significant risks to the privacy and data protection of individuals, particularly those who leave extensive digital footprints on platforms like social media.
Public and Pathological Grief: There are concerns that these avatars may lead to public and collective grief, while also causing some individuals to engage in pathological or prolonged grief due to unhealthy dependencies on these digital forms of “interaction.”
Silent Voyeurism and Data Exploitation: The phenomenon of silent voyeurism in virtual spaces, where observers passively consume data, raises ethical issues about privacy and the potential misuse of the deceased’s data.
Mortality and Ethical Boundaries: The concept of artificial immortality challenges traditional views on mortality and life’s limits, prompting questions about the desirability and ethical boundaries of extending life artificially.
Therapeutic Use vs. Dependency: While posthumous avatars may offer therapeutic benefits under expert supervision, there’s a risk they might be used inappropriately, leading to addiction or escape from reality.