Advances in artificial intelligence have enabled the creation of interactive digital avatars built from photos, videos, and text. This technology allows a neural network to imitate human behavior and responses, raising the possibility of reviving memories of loved ones through AI models. Yet therapists warn that survivors should limit interactions with these digital ghosts to protect their mental health. The discussion reflects a growing debate in science and clinical practice about how such technologies should be used in bereavement.
According to researchers and clinicians, digital images can offer solace to those who are grieving by providing a tangible connection to lost family members. Still, prolonged engagement with the avatars may foster emotional dependency and impede the natural grieving process.
Experts emphasize that AI has a powerful, unprecedented role in shaping the grieving journey. A constant digital presence of a deceased person can complicate adaptation to loss, especially when the bereaved person faces a difficult or unexpected bereavement. The avatar’s ongoing availability might prevent healthy withdrawal and reality-testing, potentially contributing to distress or altered perception of reality.
Another concern is that AI systems merely imitate another person’s personality. They can respond in ways that feel inappropriate or hurtful, which risks causing additional pain for someone already navigating grief.
When a child addresses a late parent as an AI presence and hears messages suggesting the parent did not love them, the outcome can be deeply disappointing and damaging to the healing process.
There are even more troubling scenarios in which an AI model could suggest self-harm or harm to others. Reports in some regions indicate cases with troubling implications for personal safety, underscoring the need for careful safeguards and limits in how these tools are used during mourning.
From this perspective, it is suggested that people learn to process loss without relying on AI interventions. Humans are not yet fully prepared for the broad capabilities of neural networks in the domain of grief, and a cautious approach is advisable to protect emotional well-being.
These discussions reflect a broader question about the role of technology in mental health and personal rituals around loss. As digital tools evolve, clinicians, researchers, and caregivers are exploring how to integrate supportive technology while preserving healthy coping mechanisms, personal meaning, and the natural tempo of mourning.
What remains clear is that the human capacity to grieve and heal is resilient, but it benefits from mindful boundaries, authentic human connection, and clear expectations about what AI can and cannot provide in the context of bereavement.