The ethics of “speaking” to a beloved person who died using AI as “Eternal You”

In the 1960s, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clark created a useful saying that “enough advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” He was right, as it was demonstrated by almost mysterious respect, which tends to explain artificial intelligence tools like Chatgpt. We know that it is just software. I even understand how the program works. But it's so advanced that it feels eerie as you know -we treat it with worship and a little fear.

And, more and more, we look at AI, answer a kind of question, and fulfill the kind of longing of religions once solved. That is the topic of the new documentary “Eternal You” (directed and directed by Hans Block and Moritz RiesewIeck).

As the title suggests, “Eternal You” is almost interested in the very special use of AI. The large language model trained in the deceased's speech pattern, chat log, etc. feels as if a person who is grieving is crossing the border between life and death, imitating the person's communication method. You can do it. These tools can be comfortable, but are also a potentially large business. One of the themes of the movie calls it “capitalism of death.”

I first saw “Eternal You” a year ago during the festival, but when I recently watched it, I was surprised how much it changed in these 12 months. I learned about AI Friends and AI Partners. Our social media feeds are currently full of people who are not at all, and Meta has announced plans to systematically create it on his own platform. The idea that there was a lot of money by imitating and chatting the dead, I felt a little bit related to me a year ago, but I am convinced that it was wrong now.

The theme of “Eternal You” can be from the bereaved family to skeptical to the software creator. Some people like experience. Others disturb it deeply. But more interesting is the question that animates documentaries. It's not ethical to talk to the dead, but it is ethical to sell the “ability” for a software company. AI is a great device that knows how to think of it is, as the famous sociologist Sherry Turkle says in the movie.

“Eternal you” does not actually overcome death. In a wide range of, somewhat irreplaceable methods, humans find meanings in their life as much as possible, and even experts who are making tools in a hurry to fill the gap, almost religious dedication. About stimulating. But it feels like a warning. It's not your opposite -loved one -it is not magic either.