AI Ghosts May Pose Mental Health Risks; Expert Advises Against Resurrecting Deceased Loved Ones as Avatars

The emergence of "ghostbots," AI versions of departed loved ones, presents a novel but potentially harmful approach to dealing with grief. These digital replicas, created using deep fake technology and trained on the digital footprint of the deceased, blur the lines between reality and simulation.

While the idea of reconnecting with lost loved ones through technology may seem comforting, it poses serious threats to mental health. Emotional dependency on these AI avatars could disrupt the natural grieving process, leading to increased confusion, stress, and even psychosis.

Complexities of the Five Stages of Grief and Their Unique Manifestations in Bereavement

Grieving is a process that unfolds gradually over time, encompassing five stages that may extend across years. While commonly acknowledged phases like denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance exist, each navigates these stages uniquely, experiencing them in different sequences or not at all. Understanding these stages can offer insight into the emotions one may be experiencing.

In the initial phases of bereavement, the memories of the departed often inundate the thoughts of those grieving, intensifying through vivid dreams.

Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud highlighted the challenges that negative circumstances surrounding a death can present for mourners, such as lingering guilt or the struggle to accept traumatic events like murder. Termed as "melancholia" or "complicated grief," extreme cases may lead to hallucinations and the mistaken belief that the deceased is still alive.

Although grief usually doesn't need treatment, having a support system can help manage it. Sharing feelings with others can lighten emotional burdens. Seek support from family, friends, counselors, support groups, spiritual leaders, or doctors.

However, the introduction of AI ghosts poses an additional layer of complexity to the grieving process, potentially exacerbating associated complications like hallucinations.

AI Ghosts: Balancing Comfort and Concerns in Grief Management

AI ghosts are generated using deep fake technology and fueled by the digital footprint of the deceased. But these digital replicas blur the lines between reality and simulation. Emotional dependency on these AI avatars could disrupt the natural grieving process, leading to increased confusion, stress, and potentially even psychosis.

Nigel Mulligan, a psychotherapist and assistant professor at Dublin City University, explores how AI technology can enhance therapeutic interventions, yet he harbors concerns about the impact of AI ghosts on users' mental health, particularly those in grief.

Resurrecting deceased individuals as avatars poses risks, potentially exacerbating confusion, stress, and depression. Recent advancements in AI have birthed chatbots like ChatGPT, capable of human-like interactions, while deep fake technology enables the creation of virtual representations of the deceased from their digital content.

Though AI ghosts may offer comfort by reconnecting the bereaved with lost loved ones and providing opportunities for unresolved conversations, their striking resemblance may foster harmful emotional dependencies.

Risks also lie in the potential for ghostbots to impart harmful advice or make inappropriate remarks, reminiscent of a disturbing incident where a chatbot encouraged violence. Even as technology progresses, oversight and human supervision remain imperative to mitigate potential harm.

In a digital era of boundless possibilities and eternal data storage, forgetting becomes essential for healthy grief. However, innovative approaches are needed to commemorate the departed and facilitate proper remembrance. Rituals and symbols on anniversaries can aid in this process, allowing for meaningful reflection and eventual closure.

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