Large language models are pushing into the space of death and grief, through the development of so-called griefbots, which are chatbots trained on a deceased loved one’s digital footprint (e.g., their messages and texts). Griefbots are primarily designed as tools to support grieving individuals after the loss of a loved one by simulating the deceased loved one’s style of communication, yet there exists little to no empirical research on griefbots. This presentation reviews the potential ethical implications of using griefbots with clients from a research perspective. Drawing on insights from social science, the presentation overviews how griefbots work, summarizes existing research on the topic, and aims to stimulate reflection within participants on the use of technology with clients.
Marco Dehnert (PhD, Arizona State University) is an Assistant Professor of Communication and Technology at the University of Arkansas, USA, where he also directs the AI and Robots for Connection (ARC) Lab. He is a multi-method scholar who studies human-machine communication, human-AI communication, and the social impact of communication technologies. Central to his work are questions on profoundly human connection with and through technology, including intimacy, relationships, and communication between machines and humans.