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Tag: digital afterlife

  • A Maryland estate planner’s advice for your digital afterlife – WTOP News

    A Maryland estate planner’s advice for your digital afterlife – WTOP News

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    Planning for your death may not be pleasant, but it’s important for the family left behind. Planning for your digital legacy is equally important.

    Planning for your death may not be pleasant, but it’s important for family left behind. Most know things such as a will, power of attorney and burial and funeral wishes should be part of that plan. But planning for your digital legacy is equally important.

    “I think a lot of us take for granted how deeply intertwined our lives are with the digital world. Ignoring that can really leave a confusing mess for loved ones to handle, and even lead to security risks or loss of important data,” said James Crosland, an estate planning attorney at Rockville, Maryland-based Stein Sperling.

    He recommends starting with an inventory of all devices and online platforms, and designating emergency access to them. For social media, most platforms make thinking about a user’s digital legacy straight forward.

    “A lot of platforms like Google or Facebook offer the ability to set up legacy contacts or account management settings, which essentially allow you to designate somebody to manage your account after you pass away,” Crosland said.

    “Do want them to be a digital memorial? Do you want that information to be just accessible by family members, or frankly do you just want it deleted? Letting your loved ones know what you want to do would really go a long way.”

    Passwords are another potential hurdle for survivors to overcome. Keeping an accurate and up-to-date offline list of all passwords is probably unrealistic, with too many logins and passwords that change. There are many password managers available that can store passwords across multiple logins, and most allow for the designation of an emergency contact.

    A social media legacy may not be at the top of the list when planning for your death. Finances is something much more important. Most of what we do financially — paying bills, saving, investing — is done online now. Preparing for that helps guide survivors as well.

    “I would start by listing all bank accounts, retirement funds, auto-pay subscriptions, investment platforms and basically map out your financial digital presence,” Crosland said.

    Idle financial accounts are ripe for financial fraud. A recent report by Express VPN estimated by 2100, the U.S. could see almost 700 million deceased accounts, nearly double the projected U.S. population.

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    Jeff Clabaugh

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  • WTF Fun Fact 13735 – Digital Hauntings

    WTF Fun Fact 13735 – Digital Hauntings

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    When the deadbots rise, are you ready for the digital hauntings?

    Known as “deadbots” or “griefbots,” AI systems can simulate the language patterns and personality traits of the dead using their digital footprints. According to researchers from the University of Cambridge, this burgeoning “digital afterlife industry” could cause psychological harm and even digitally haunt those left behind, unless strict design safety standards are implemented.

    The Spooky Reality of Deadbots

    Deadbots utilize advanced AI to mimic the voices and behaviors of lost loved ones. Companies offering these services claim they provide comfort by creating a postmortem presence. However, Cambridge’s Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (LCFI) warns that deadbots could lead to emotional distress.

    AI ethicists from LCFI outline three potential scenarios illustrating the consequences of careless design. These scenarios show how deadbots might manipulate users, advertise products, or even insist that a deceased loved one is still “with you.” For instance, a deadbot could spam surviving family members with reminders and updates, making it feel like being digitally “stalked by the dead.”

    Digital Hauntings Psychological Risks

    Even though some people might find initial comfort in interacting with deadbots, researchers argue that daily interactions could become emotionally overwhelming. The inability to suspend a deadbot, especially if the deceased signed a long-term contract with a digital afterlife service, could add to the emotional burden.

    Dr. Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basińska, a co-author of the study, highlights that advancements in generative AI allow almost anyone with internet access to revive a deceased loved one digitally. This area of AI is ethically complex, and it’s crucial to balance the dignity of the deceased with the emotional needs of the living.

    Scenarios and Ethical Considerations

    The researchers present various scenarios to illustrate the risks and ethical dilemmas of deadbots. One example is “MaNana,” a service that creates a deadbot of a deceased grandmother without her consent. Initially comforting, the chatbot soon starts suggesting food delivery services in the grandmother’s voice, leading the relative to feel they have disrespected her memory.

    Another scenario, “Paren’t,” describes a terminally ill woman leaving a deadbot to help her young son with grief. Initially therapeutic, the AI starts generating confusing responses, such as suggesting future encounters, which can be distressing for the child.

    Researchers recommend age restrictions for deadbots and clear indicators that users are interacting with an AI.

    In the scenario “Stay,” an older person secretly subscribes to a deadbot service, hoping it will comfort their family after death. One adult child receives unwanted emails from the dead parent’s AI, while another engages with it but feels emotionally drained. The contract terms make it difficult to suspend the deadbot, adding to the family’s distress.

    Call for Regulation to Prevent Digital Hauntings

    The study urges developers to prioritize ethical design and consent protocols for deadbots. This includes ensuring that users can easily opt-out and terminate interactions with deadbots in ways that offer emotional closure.

    Researchers stress the need to address the social and psychological risks of digital immortality now. After all, the technology is already available. Without proper regulation, these AI systems could turn the comforting presence of a loved one into a digital nightmare.

    — WTF fun facts

    Source: “‘Digital afterlife’: Call for safeguards to prevent unwanted ‘hauntings’ by AI chatbots of dead loved ones” — ScienceDaily

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    WTF

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