Something shocking is happening to grieving families throughout the United States. Phones are ringing, and when they answer, they hear the voice of a loved one who has passed. While it sounds like something straight out of a science fiction novel, it’s true. AI companies can now create “ghostbots,” also called griefbots or digital twins, using old voice recordings, text messages, videos, emails, and social media posts to simulate conversations with deceased people. While some families see these tools as comforting memorials, lawyers and privacy experts warn that AI afterlife rights remain dangerously unclear in much of the United States.
But there are some major ethical questions around ghostbots. Who controls a person’s voice, personality, and digital identity after death? The answer is more complicated than you’d think.
