After We’re Gone: Consent, Grief, and Our Digital Selves
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AI can increasingly imitate the voice, appearance, conversational style, and creative identity of real people, including people who have died. But being technically able to recreate someone is different from having permission to do so.
Following RMAIIG’s October meeting on AI Ghosts: Griefbots, Digital Twins, and the Question of Who Owns a Human Identity, the AI Safety & Ethics, Legal, and AI for Good subgroups are joining forces to dig deeper into the ethical choices these technologies create.
Rather than another set of presentations, this session will be a participatory discussion built around scenarios. We’ll consider questions of consent, grief, authenticity, emotional attachment, ownership, and responsibility. Does permission to use someone’s photographs also mean permission to simulate their personality? Can a person meaningfully consent today to an AI version of themselves that might exist decades from now? What responsibilities do companies have when users form relationships with simulations of real people?
You do not need to have attended the main RMAIIG meeting. Bring curiosity rather than conclusions. We’ll try to separate what is technically possible, what the law currently permits, and what we think ethical norms ought to be.
All are welcome. We aim for thoughtful, respectful conversation across different backgrounds and viewpoints. Please critique ideas, not people; assume good faith; and avoid sharing private or confidential information.
Come hang out, grab a drink or a bite, and enjoy a low-key lunch with the local AI community.