Artificial intelligence-led 'resurrections' spur ethical debates and extend mourning, according to Catholic authorities

In a series of conversations and assessments, experts have been delving into the ethical implications of using AI avatars, particularly in the context of grief and bereavement.

Last year, an AI-generated voice of Joaquin Oliver, a victim of the tragic 2018 Florida school shooting, was interviewed by journalist Jim Acosta. This was not the first time AI-generated voices of Parkland victims were used; they had previously been employed in a robocall campaign urging gun reform.

However, the use of AI avatars raises several ethical questions. Brian Patrick Green, director of technology ethics at Santa Clara University, is a member of the AI Research Group, convened at the invitation of the Vatican Center for Digital Culture. Green believes there's a right and wrong way to use AI avatars. He warns that using them could lead to the "instrumentalization of a memory" and potentially violate the deceased's rights.

Green also argues against using the term "resurrection" to describe AI avatars, stating it is a mockery of the word and should not be used. Instead, he suggests that AI should be used to create a digital scrapbook of a lost loved one, rather than attempting to digitally resurrect them.

Patrick Metts, a licensed professional counselor, shares similar concerns. He believes that AI avatars of deceased loved ones could hinder the process of grief and bereavement by causing confusion and potentially isolating the bereaved. Metts distinguishes between grieving and mourning, with the latter constituting active steps to remember the deceased, such as attending a funeral Mass, visiting the gravesite, writing in journals, or listening to songs the person used to love.

Both Metts and Green note that modern U.S. culture increasingly seeks to avoid discussions of death. They emphasize the importance of Catholic teaching, thought, and pastoral practice in handling the challenges posed by AI avatars and other forms of AI use. The Catholic faith stresses the continuum between the dead who have gone before us and future generations, and believes we have a responsibility to respect the dead and future generations.

At the parish level, faithful can offer meaningful support to those grappling with the death of a loved one by reaching out, being a presence in their life, and actively meeting them in their grief. These active steps can help bring a sense of acceptance and closure to the bereaved.

The AI Research Group has produced an ethical and anthropological assessment of AI called "Encountering Artificial Intelligence." Though the search results do not provide information about which organization Brian Patrick Green was a member of in the AI Research Group working on this project from 2020 to 2023, it is clear that their work is contributing to a broader conversation about the ethical use of AI in various aspects of life.

Green warns that large language models can be psychologically confusing to people. He argues that AI should not be used to digitally resurrect people, but rather to create a digital scrapbook of a lost loved one. He notes that having an AI avatar present could undermine these bonds and create more loneliness because it will fall infinitely short of the person they lost.

In conclusion, the use of AI avatars in the context of grief and bereavement is a complex issue that requires careful consideration and adherence to ethical guidelines. The Catholic faith, with its emphasis on respect for the dead and the importance of community support during times of grief, offers valuable insights in navigating this new frontier.

Artificial intelligence-led 'resurrections' spur ethical debates and extend mourning, according to Catholic authorities