Death in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Digital Souls
Abstract
This article examines the phenomenon of death within the context of advancing artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on the concept of “digital resurrection.” The initial section introduces the Project December platform, which enables simulated conversations with deceased individuals. This platform operates through advanced algorithms based on artificial intelligence, generating texts that mimic the speech of deceased persons. A case study of Joshua Barbeau is presented, illustrating how he was able to “converse” with his deceased fiancée using this technology. The paper highlights the therapeutic potential of this service, along with the ethical dilemmas associated with the digital reconstruction of deceased individuals’ personalities. In the subsequent section, the notions of extended eternity and digital resurrection are defined, and their roles in the perception of both one’s own death and the death of loved ones are discussed. Questions are posed regarding how extended eternity technology might alter societal awareness of death in the near future, and what the long-term psychological consequences of this phenomenon might be. It is demonstrated that, within the framework of transhumanist assumptions, modern AI technologies are redefining the boundaries between life and death, and influencing the formation of personal identity and interpersonal and familial relationships.
Copyright (c) 2024 Ignatianum University in Cracow
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The Yearbook only accepts materials for publication that are free of all conflicts of interest, and that in no way involve conflicts over authorship, copyright, etc. The Editors will take action against any cases of plagiarizing, ghostwriting1, guest/honorary authorship2, etc. Where co-authored work is concerned, the Author listed first is expected to take responsibility for the submission, and is required to make clear the contributions of all of the Co-Authors involved. In the event of the publication owing its existence to funding dedicated to this purpose, this fact should be made clear: e.g. in any note of thanks/acknowledgement, or in a footnote, etc. Explicit notification should be given of any form of reprinting, with the appropriate evidence of permission to publish being furnished as required. Any impropriety on the part of Authors/Reviewers risks exposing them to appropriate responses from the relevant institutions.
______
1 This term refers to instances of a person who has made an essential contribution being omitted from the list of authors, or from notes conveying gratitude and/or acknowledgement.
2 This occurs when a person who has made either an insignificant contribution or no contribution at all nevertheless appears on the list of authors.
