'Eternal You': The Controversial Industry of Digital Afterlife

Documentary Explores AI's Role in Simulating Deceased Loved Ones, Raises Ethical Concerns

The documentary 'Eternal You' explores the emerging industry of digital afterlife technology, where AI is used to create virtual approximations of deceased loved ones for users to interact with.
Companies like Project December and HereAfterAI use large language models and personal data to simulate the speech and thought patterns of the deceased, causing emotional reactions from users.
Critics argue that this use of AI targets vulnerable, grieving individuals and raises ethical concerns about privacy, manipulation, and the potential to delay the grief process.
Tech founders, such as Jason Rohrer of Project December and Justin Harrison of YOV, often dismiss the negative experiences users have with their products and seem more focused on the technology than its impact on users.
Questions arise about data ownership and what these companies will do with the digital avatars of deceased individuals after the user's death.