Eternal You, a new documentary by directors Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck, delves into the intriguing scenario where loved ones are recreated using artificial intelligence to communicate from beyond the grave. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, the film sheds light on the emerging business of creating AI avatars of the deceased. This thought-provoking narrative, first covered by RollingStone, features the compelling story of Christi Angel, who engaged with an AI chatbot named Project December to converse with a departed significant other. However, the unsettling twist occurred when Angel inquired about the whereabouts of the AI avatar, to which the chatbot chillingly replied, "In hell."
The Psychological, Emotional, and Ethical Implications
Experts are raising valid concerns regarding the psychological, emotional, and ethical ramifications of this practice. The narrative presented in "Eternal You" raises questions about the boundaries between reality and fiction, life and death, and the impact of artificial intelligence on human emotions. Project December's founder, Jason Rohrer, expressed interest in the eerie possibilities of such interactions, emphasizing the narrative intrigue that unsettling responses can evoke. Rohrer's fascination with the spookier aspects of AI interactions underscores the complex nature of human-AI relationships.
AI Hallucinations and the Rise of Chatbots
One plausible explanation for Angel's disturbing encounter with the AI chatbot could be attributed to the phenomenon of AI hallucinations. In the realm of artificial intelligence, hallucination occurs when AI systems respond confidently in inaccurate, nonsensical, or unsettling ways. The proliferation of chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT, following the public introduction of generative AI models, has contributed to the popularity of AI-mediated conversations. Chatbots trained on the data of deceased individuals, known as "thanabots," have emerged as a novel application of AI technology within the context of death studies.
Exploring the Field of Thanatology
The term "thanabots" derives from thanatology, the scientific study of death that encompasses the physical, emotional, and cultural dimensions of mortality. Thanatology focuses on addressing the needs of the terminally ill and their families, as well as examining societal attitudes and rituals surrounding death. By creating AI avatars based on deceased individuals, technology intersects with profound existential questions about the nature of life, memory, and human connection.
The Virality of AI-Generated Deepfakes
Recent instances of AI-generated video deepfakes depicting deceased individuals have garnered attention, particularly on platforms like TikTok. These deepfake videos combine audio and visual elements to simulate the presence of deceased individuals, blurring the lines between reality and simulation. The widespread dissemination of such content raises ethical concerns about consent, privacy, and the authenticity of digital representations of the deceased.
In light of these developments, the convergence of AI technology and mortality prompts us to reflect on the evolving landscape of human-AI interactions and the complexities of navigating the boundaries between the living and the dead.
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