New AI tools are allowing people to have interactive conversations with their deceased relatives, raising questions about whether this is creepy or cool. These tools, such as StoryFile, enable families to preserve memories and personal connections with their ancestors. The tools have been used to record the memories of notable individuals, including celebrities and Holocaust survivors. StoryFile was used at the memorial service of actor Ed Asner, where mourners had the opportunity to converse with him through an interactive display. While some people found it unsettling, most were amazed by the technology. These memory-preservation programs have the potential to change the way history is collected and emphasize the importance of personal stories.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| New AI tools for chatting with dead relatives | Preservation of memories and personal connections | More advanced AI tools for interactive conversations with deceased loved ones | Interest in genealogy and ancestry |
| Tools used to record the memories of noteworthy people | Recording and preserving the memories of notable individuals | Increased accessibility and use of tools for preserving memories | Desire to preserve the legacies of notable individuals |
| StoryFile used at Ed Asner’s memorial service | Conversations with deceased loved ones through interactive displays | Widely available interactive displays for conversing with the deceased | Desire to maintain a sense of connection with deceased loved ones |
| Amazon’s experimental Alexa feature that reads books aloud in the voice of a late relative | Artificially recreating the voices of deceased loved ones | Improved technology for recreating the voices of deceased loved ones | Desire to hear the voices of deceased loved ones |
| MyHeritage’s “Deep Nostalgia” tool for animating old-timey photographs of relatives | Animation of old photographs for a more interactive experience | Enhanced animation technology for more realistic and interactive animations | Desire to bring old photographs to life |
| HereAfter AI for recording personal stories and experiences | Recording and preserving personal stories for future generations | More advanced AI tools for recording and preserving personal stories | Desire to share personal stories with future generations |
| Microsoft’s patent for creating “chatbots” that mimic individual people based on social media posts and text messages | Creation of chatbots that mimic deceased or living individuals | More realistic and accurate chatbots based on extensive data | Desire to interact with simulated versions of deceased or living individuals |
| Growing familiarity with AI programs through deepfakes, science fiction, and holograms | Integration of AI programs in various forms of media and entertainment | Increased use and acceptance of AI programs for simulating deceased individuals | Fascination with and curiosity about the capabilities of AI |
| Potential future development of AI that responds in a human-like way to new situations | Creation of AI with enhanced adaptability and human-like behavior | AI that can effectively respond to novel situations in a human-like manner | Advancements in AI technology and algorithms |
| Memory-preservation programs changing the way history is collected | Shift in the preservation and documentation of personal and historical narratives | Increased emphasis on personal stories and individual experiences in historical records | Recognition of the value of personal narratives in shaping history |