Life, death, and AI: Exploring digital necromancy in popular culture—Ethical considerations, technological limitations, and the pet cemetery conundrum

Abstract

This article explores the rise of generative AI, particularly ChatGPT, and the combination of large language models (LLM) with robotics, exemplified by Ameca the Robot. It addresses the need to study the ethical considerations and potential implications of digital necromancy, which involves using AI to reanimate deceased individuals for various purposes. Reasons for desiring to engage with a disembodied or bodied replica of a person include the preservation of memories, emotional closure, cultural heritage and historical preservation, interacting with idols or influential figures, educational and research purposes, and creative expression and artistic endeavors. As such, this article examines historical examples of the practice in hologram concerts, CGI characters, and others in order to analyze the ethical concerns related to privacy, consent, and commercial gain. It delves into the challenges of accurately representing individual personalities, misrepresenting cultural context, and the limitations of available data. Furthermore, it explores the Pet Cemetery conundrum and its impact on the grieving process, mental health, and the moral implications of using AI to generate interactions with the deceased. By contemplating future use cases like interactive virtual assistants and realistic historical reenactments, the article highlights the importance of addressing ethical implications as these technologies continue to advance and contributes to the discourse on the responsible and ethical use of generative AI, LLM, and robotics in the context of digital resurrection, calling for ongoing discussions and considerations of AI rights, social dynamics, and the grieving process.

Digital Resurrection: Challenging the Boundary between Life and Death with Artificial Intelligence

“…This enables interaction with a digitally created personality through AI [25]. However, these recreations are only sometimes accurate, as the collected and processed data can be contextualized improperly and used for purposes different from the original intent [26]. Other options in the market offer digital recreation services, such as Eterni.me and GoodTrust.…”

Comparative Evaluation of Fine-Tuned and Standard Language Models in Emulating Living Historical Figures: A Detailed Study Proposal

“…This feat raises pertinent questions about the extent and potential of such unsupervised learning methods beyond multilingual translations. Continuing on this trajectory of exploring novel applications of large language models, the intriguing field of 'digital necromancy' has surfaced, fascinating us with its use of AI and LLMs to simulate interactions with deceased individuals-an area rich in both potential and ethical challenges, as explored by Hutson and Ratican (2023).…”

“…Digital necromancy represents an emerging area of research, combining the capabilities of AI, large language models (LLMs), and robotics to enable interactions with virtual versions of deceased individuals. In their seminal work, Hutson and Ratican (2023) examine the ethical considerations, potential implications, and technological limitations that arise in the context of this practice [2].…”