Artificial intelligence is changing the way people experience grief, offering new tools to preserve memories of loved ones while sparking serious ethical questions. From voice clones to interactive avatars, “grief tech” allows people to digitally reconnect with those they have lost — but its impact on mourning and mental health remains complex.
For Diego Felix Dos Santos, AI provided a way to hear his late father’s voice again. Using a platform called Eleven Labs, he uploaded a voice note and paid a monthly fee to generate new messages in his father’s voice. While initially controversial within his religious family, the technology gave him comfort and a sense of connection.
Such experiences reflect a growing industry of grief technology. Platforms like StoryFile, HereAfter AI, and Eternos allow users to record themselves, create avatars, and leave behind digital legacies.
Robert LoCascio, who founded Eternos after losing his father, said more than 400 people have used the service to create AI twins, with subscriptions starting at $25. For families like that of Michael Bommer, who created an avatar before dying of cancer, the technology provides an enduring sense of closeness.
However, experts raise concerns. Consent is one of the biggest issues — what happens when someone is digitally recreated without permission? While some firms have strict policies requiring proof of consent, others allow posthumous creation, sparking ethical debate.
Data privacy is another major worry. Researchers warn that commercial incentives may overshadow safeguards, and families have little control over how personal data might be used in the future.
There are also psychological risks. While some see grief tech as a helpful memory tool, others fear it could disrupt natural grieving. Author Cody Delistraty warns against treating AI as a shortcut through mourning, while bereavement experts emphasize the need to balance remembrance with moving forward in life.
For many, though, grief tech is not about replacing the dead but preserving connections. As Dos Santos explained, AI cannot bring his father back, but it allows him to hold on to moments that mattered.
For those navigating loss, such technology may become another tool — alongside photos, letters, and memories — to keep loved ones close while continuing to live.
