Digital recreations of dead people need urgent regulation, AI ethicists say
- Digital recreations of deceased individuals, known as “deadbots,” are on the verge of becoming a reality, raising urgent ethical concerns.
- These services could allow users to interact with digital versions of their deceased loved ones, but they pose risks of psychological harm and disrespect for the rights of the deceased.
- Unethical business practices, such as monetizing digital legacies through advertising, could further exacerbate the psychological impact on users, especially children.
- Experts argue that the use of deadbots by children in particular could cause significant damage by disrupting the normal grieving process.
- Researchers suggest that regulation and best practices, such as procedures for “retiring” deadbots and limiting their interactive features, are necessary to preserve the dignity of the dead and the wellbeing of the living.
