Should We Talk to AI Versions of Deceased Loved Ones?

AI can now recreate aspects of a deceased person through chatbots that imitate their personality, voice, memories, and way of speaking. For some, this offers comfort and a way to maintain a connection with someone they have lost. For others, it risks interfering with grief, confusing simulation with genuine presence, or treating the dead as if they were still alive.

But is talking to an AI version of a deceased loved one fundamentally different from looking at old photographs, reading their letters, or imagining what they would say?

Join us for a philosophical discussion about grief, technology, personal identity, and the nature of human relationships.

Guiding questions:

• Is talking to an AI version of a deceased loved one fundamentally different from other ways of remembering them?
• Can these interactions help us come to terms with loss, or might they prevent us from moving on?
• What makes a relationship genuine, and can a simulated person meaningfully participate in one?
• Do we have moral reasons to avoid recreating the dead, or should people be free to decide for themselves?
• If an AI version of someone says or does something the deceased person never would have, who—or what—are we actually interacting with?

As always, the aim is not to reach a predetermined conclusion, but to explore the arguments, challenge our assumptions, and understand different perspectives. You do not need any prior knowledge of AI or philosophy to participate.

Description by ChatGPT