Could AI be a Tool For Grieving Families in the Future?

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Thursday, September 7, 2023

There is a lot of buzz around AI these days. And while the tools of artificial intelligence are still in their infancy, there is a lot of talk about its use in a variety of industries. AI could potentially provide comfort to those in mourning. Below, we will discuss some of the ways that researchers are looking into providing grieving families comfort through the power of AI. 

Recreating Voice and Images

Even in its rudimentary form, many users of AI programs have been able to recreate voices and videos of celebrities, characters from cartoons, and more. While this is easier than an average individual because there is more available content from these individuals, something like this can provide an avenue for individual use in the future. Some individuals have tried using voice and video from relatives to get chatbots to speak in the voice of loved ones. Recordings of a person’s face, voice, and mannerisms could be used to potentially recreate an AI facsimile of them in the future. Some people have said this can be cathartic. You could be able to have a conversation with an AI generation of a loved one and hear it respond in their voice.

Grief and Acceptance of Loss with AI

Whether you subscribe to the 5-stage model of grief or not, coming to terms with the loss of your loved one is an important part of grief. But, if you can talk with an AI avatar of the deceased at any time, you may not fully accept that they are no longer with you. Accepting that your loved one has passed away is an important part of moving on and continuing to live your life. 

The Ethics of AI and Consent

As with much of the discussion around artificial intelligence, ethics are a major concern in the grief process as well. Arguments could be made about fair use, but outside of the legal arguments, it is definitely an ethical question as well. Using a person’s likeness without their consent is a huge aspect of the AI conversation right now. Your deceased loved one can’t consent to their likeness being used by an AI website.
Even if your loved one agreed to and recorded videos before their death for this purpose, the usage of this content may be questionable. If you upload a video of your loved one, their likeness could be used in other ways by AI. If someone makes a video promoting their business or even a movie project, your loved one’s likeness could theoretically be a part of it. 

The author of this post is not a professional therapist or counselor. For assistance in finding a grief counselor that is right for you, there are several resources out there. For our Grief Resource Center, written by Dr. Bill Webster, click here
For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Alcohol Use and Coping with Grief

While in grief, many people turn to things that can comfort or distract them. It is not uncommon for some people to reach for alcohol in this way. For many people, alcohol can serve as a way to avo...

Apathy and Grief

On this blog, we often talk about how grief is a complicated emotion, and how everyone experiences it differently. However, we don’t often talk about grief and apathy. Apathy is a state of numbness...

Etiquette for Donating In a Loved One's Name

Some individuals or their families request donations to charity in place of flowers during the bereavement period. Most families will appreciate the donation in their loved one’s name. Especially i...

Grief and Losing Online Friends

In our technology-based world, more and more people have developed friendships completely in cyberspace. Consistent communication with gaming partners, online community members, and more allows us ...

Sending Sympathy Meals to a Loved One

When a friend or family member passes away, it is a common practice to send sympathy meals to the immediate family. Sympathy meals show your support for the family while providing them with food. W...

Validating Feelings of Grief

Grief is one of the most complex and misunderstood emotions for people to experience. One way to help your loved one cope with their grief is to validate their feelings. Supporting a loved one who ...

When a Loved One Receives a Terminal Diagnosis

When a loved one finds out that they have a terminal illness, it can be overwhelming to navigate the next steps. It can be difficult to know where to start. Preparations for care, end-of-life servi...

Choosing Your Loved One's Urn

When choosing an urn for your loved one’s cremated remains, there are many aspects to consider. Urns come in an array of shapes, sizes, colors, styles, and materials. It can be difficult to figure ...

Preplanning: Taking Charge of Your Own Funeral

There are many reasons to preplan your funeral, from mitigating costs to making your funeral easier for your loved ones upon your passing. But one important aspect of preplanning your funeral is es...

When is Grief Good?

Grief can make us feel like a great weight rests on our shoulders. Grieving can be a challenging, and often overwhelming, experience. Although grief is brought upon us by loss and sorrow, is it tru...