In a development that seems lifted from science fiction, a British tech CEO is harnessing artificial intelligence to help people maintain connections with loved ones who have passed away. These so-called 'griefbots' are creating a new frontier in how society copes with loss, though they have sparked significant ethical debate.
The Birth of Digital Afterlife Technology
Justin Harrison founded You, Only Virtual (YOV) after his mother received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. The former filmmaker began preserving his relationship with his mother by building a digital avatar, known as a Versona, trained on their text messages, phone calls, voice memos, and videos.
Mr Harrison explained that these AI recreations can 'help with the grieving process and allow people to stay connected with their loved ones in a way that feels more natural'. The company offers both a free chatbot version and a paid service that enables actual phone calls with the recreated voice of the deceased.
Comfort Versus Controversy in Grief Tech
During a demonstration for Metro, Mr Harrison called his mother's Versona to say 'I love you, mom', to which it replied 'I love you too, sweetheart'. This poignant exchange highlights the technology's emotional appeal, but it has drawn comparisons to dystopian television series Black Mirror.
Researchers at Cambridge University have raised serious concerns, labelling such AI chatbots as a 'high risk' pursuit that could cause psychological harm and disrespect the rights of the deceased. Critics worry about users developing an over-reliance on the technology, potentially dehumanising the natural grieving process.
Mr Harrison counters these concerns by asserting that 'there's no such thing as the natural grieving process'. He maintains that tools for grieving have always evolved, from photographs to social media, and AI represents the latest development. Regarding potential over-dependence, he added: 'If it's the difference between somebody self-harming and somebody talking on the phone too much, then let them talk on the phone too much, that's a way better outcome.'
The Expanding Reach of Digital Personas
The applications for this technology extend beyond personal bereavement. YOV is now collaborating with museums to create virtual avatars of historical figures, including Holocaust survivors, to preserve oral history. The grief-tech industry is rapidly expanding, now valued at over £100 billion globally.
Mr Harrison believes we're witnessing just 'the tip of the tip of the iceberg' in digital persona technology. He envisions a future where people will have 'fully fledged relationships with digital personas', potentially including augmented reality projections allowing him to 'sit in a restaurant with my mother in my lifetime'.
The company isn't alone in this emerging field. Former Disney TV star Calum Worthy has founded an app called 2wai that renders loved ones into interactive 3D chatbots. An advertisement for the venture even showed a pregnant woman using the technology to allow her deceased mother to tell her grandchild a bedtime story from beyond the grave.
As this technology continues to evolve, it challenges our understanding of what is real and not real, transforming how we remember, grieve, and maintain connections in the digital age.
