In our journey through life, we all experience loss and grief. It is a natural and often painful process that accompanies the departure of our loved ones. However, what if there was a way to keep them with us, even after they are gone? What if we could recreate them virtually, engaging in conversations and discovering how they are feeling?
Kim Kardashian, on her fortieth birthday, was gifted a hologram of her late father, Robert Kardashian, by her then husband, Kanye West. Reportedly, she reacted with a mix of disbelief and joy at the virtual presence of her father during her birthday celebration. This raises the question: what impact does this technology have on our mental health? Are AI ghosts a source of help or a hindrance in the grieving process?
As a psychotherapist specializing in understanding the potential of AI technology in therapeutic interventions, I find myself intrigued by the emergence of ghostbots. However, my excitement is tempered by concerns about the potential effects of this technology on the mental well-being of those who use it, particularly those who are grieving. Although resurrecting deceased individuals as avatars can be seen as miraculous, there is a risk that it may cause harm by perpetuating confusion, stress, depression, paranoia, and in some cases, even psychosis.
Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have introduced us to ChatGPT and other chatbots capable of engaging in sophisticated human-like conversations. Utilizing deep fake technology, AI software can create interactive virtual representations of deceased individuals using their digital content, such as photographs, emails, and videos. This once fictional concept has become a scientific reality.
But are these digital ghosts a comfort to the grieving or do they pose potential challenges? On one hand, they offer an opportunity for the bereaved to reconnect with their lost loved ones, allowing them to express unsaid words or seek answers to unanswered questions. On the other hand, their uncanny resemblance to the departed might not be as positive as it initially seems. Research suggests that these AI creations should be utilized only temporarily as aids in the mourning process, in order to avoid potentially harmful emotional dependency on the technology.
The journey of grief is a deeply personal and time-consuming process, consisting of different stages that can span over many years. In the initial stages of bereavement, individuals often find themselves frequently thinking of their deceased loved ones, reminiscing on memories, and experiencing intense dreams. Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud was concerned about the impact of loss on human emotions, noting that additional difficulties may arise if negative sentiments surrounded the death. For instance, if the relationship with the deceased was ambivalent, guilt may weigh heavily on the bereaved. Additionally, if the circumstances of the death were traumatic or horrific, acceptance of the loss becomes even more challenging.
Freud referred to this prolonged and complicated grief as “melancholia,” characterized by intense sorrow and manifesting in hallucinations or apparitions of seeing the dead person. These experiences can blur the boundaries between life and death, leading individuals to believe that the deceased are still alive. Introducing AI ghostbots into this complex dynamic could potentially exacerbate the distress and contribute to the development or worsening of associated problems, such as hallucinations.
Furthermore, there are risks involved with these ghost-bots providing harmful advice or saying hurtful things to those in mourning. Similar generative software, like ChatGPT chatbots, have already faced criticism for disseminating misinformation. Imagine the pain if an AI ghostbot made inappropriate remarks, insinuating that the user was unloved or not their father’s favorite. In extreme scenarios, the ghostbot might even suggest that the user should join them in death or engage in harmful acts. Although this may sound like a plot from a horror film, it is not entirely far-fetched. In response to real-life incidents, the UK’s Labour party proposed a law in 2023 to prevent the training of AI to incite violence, following an attempted assassination of the Queen where the perpetrator was encouraged by his chatbot girlfriend.
The creators of ChatGPT themselves acknowledge that the software is prone to errors and not entirely reliable, as it fabricates information. It is uncertain how a person’s texts, emails, or videos will be interpreted by this AI technology and what content it will generate.
Regardless of the advancements of this technology, it becomes apparent that significant oversight and human supervision will always be essential.
In our digital era, where data can be stored indefinitely in the cloud and everything seems retrievable, forgetting holds its own relevance in healthy grief. Finding new and meaningful ways to move forward and grieve while allowing ourselves to forget is a crucial part of the healing process.
FAQs:
Q: What are AI ghosts or ghostbots?
A: AI ghosts or ghostbots are interactive virtual representations of deceased individuals created using artificial intelligence and deep fake technology. They utilize the digital content of the deceased, such as photographs, emails, and videos, to recreate their presence.
Q: Can AI ghosts be helpful in the grieving process?
A: AI ghosts have the potential to provide comfort by allowing the bereaved to reconnect with their lost loved ones, expressing unsaid words or seeking answers to unanswered questions. However, they should be used as temporary aids to mourning to avoid potential emotional dependency on the technology.
Q: What are the potential risks associated with AI ghostbots?
A: AI ghostbots may interfere with the grieving process, potentially causing more harm than good. They can contribute to confusion, stress, depression, paranoia, and even psychosis. Furthermore, there is a risk that these ghostbots may provide harmful advice or say hurtful things, leading to emotional distress.
Q: Can AI ghostbots lead to complications in the grief process?
A: Yes, prolonged and complicated grief, also known as “melancholia” or “complicated grief,” can be exacerbated by the presence of AI ghostbots. These avatars may intensify hallucinations, blurring the boundaries between life and death, and may contribute to associated problems such as increased hallucinations or apparitions.
Sources:
– [ChatGPT – OpenAI](https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/)
– [Deep Fake Technology – Medium](https://medium.com/datadriveninvestor/deep-real-chatbots-next-generation-of-chatbots-bb0ba35923a9)
Definitions:
– AI ghosts or ghostbots: Interactive virtual representations of deceased individuals created using artificial intelligence and deep fake technology. They utilize the digital content of the deceased, such as photographs, emails, and videos, to recreate their presence.
– Deep fake technology: A technique that uses artificial intelligence to create or manipulate media, such as images or videos, in a way that appears convincingly real but is actually fabricated or altered.
Q: What are AI ghosts or ghostbots?
A: AI ghosts or ghostbots are interactive virtual representations of deceased individuals created using artificial intelligence and deep fake technology. They utilize the digital content of the deceased, such as photographs, emails, and videos, to recreate their presence.
Q: Can AI ghosts be helpful in the grieving process?
A: AI ghosts have the potential to provide comfort by allowing the bereaved to reconnect with their lost loved ones, expressing unsaid words or seeking answers to unanswered questions. However, they should be used as temporary aids to mourning to avoid potential emotional dependency on the technology.
Q: What are the potential risks associated with AI ghostbots?
A: AI ghostbots may interfere with the grieving process, potentially causing more harm than good. They can contribute to confusion, stress, depression, paranoia, and even psychosis. Furthermore, there is a risk that these ghostbots may provide harmful advice or say hurtful things, leading to emotional distress.
Q: Can AI ghostbots lead to complications in the grief process?
A: Yes, prolonged and complicated grief, also known as “melancholia” or “complicated grief,” can be exacerbated by the presence of AI ghostbots. These avatars may intensify hallucinations, blurring the boundaries between life and death, and may contribute to associated problems such as increased hallucinations or apparitions.
Sources:
– ChatGPT – OpenAI
– Deep Fake Technology – Medium
The source of the article is from the blog j6simracing.com.br