Connecting with the Departed: How AI Apps Will Transform Our Relationship with the Deceased in Five Years

A University of Cambridge professor, Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basińska, predicts a future where AI technology will enable us to interact with deceased loved ones through apps, making cemetery visits seem outdated. By 2030, she envisions a booming “digital afterlife industry,” where personalized AI avatars replicate the personalities and voices of the deceased. These advancements raise important questions about grief, privacy, and human connection, as families may prefer digital interactions over traditional mourning practices. Companies like Replika and StoryFile are already offering services that facilitate these interactions. While this technology promises a form of digital immortality, it also presents potential consequences for mourning and emotional development, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations in the digital age. Concerns about data privacy and the commercialization of the deceased’s digital footprint remain paramount. This shift marks a significant change in how we approach death and memory, challenging societal norms around grief and remembrance.

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