Meta Platforms once explored using AI to keep accounts active after someone dies. A 2023 patent described training a large language model on a user’s posts to simulate their style, generating posts, comments, likes, and even messages.
The idea, led by CTO Andrew Bosworth, was striking—and for many, unsettling. Meta has said it has no plans to implement the system. Still, the patent shows how far tech companies have pushed the boundaries of generative AI.
The concept isn’t purely theoretical. A growing “grief tech” sector uses AI to recreate voices or personalities of the deceased from photos, recordings, and messages. Proponents say it offers comfort. Critics worry it could complicate grieving.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has noted AI companions could help address loneliness and allow people to interact with digital representations of loved ones. He also acknowledged psychological risks and the need for more research.
The business case is clear. Social media platforms hold millions of dormant accounts. AI-generated activity could increase engagement and data collection. University of Birmingham law professor Edina Harbinja notes the commercial incentive, even if the ethics are murky.
Experts urge caution. University of Virginia sociologist Joseph Davis says grieving involves confronting loss, not replacing it with simulations.
While Meta has distanced itself from the patent’s more provocative ideas, its existence highlights how technology is forcing new ethical questions about death, memory, and identity.
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