Digital ghosts
#96 - Feb.2024
What if we could transcend mortality through a digital avatar of ourselves?
This might sound crazy but is much more real than you believe. Digital ghosts - AI-driven representations of a person’s identity - are a reality, exploring the boundaries (even ethical) of what’s possible through technology.
Most of the time we don’t realize the amount of digital assets that we own. Sure, we account for our physical assets - house, car, clothes - but what about our digital identities?
Our chat messages, e-mails, photos, videos, and documents… to some extent make part of our identity. This is precisely what companies such as Replika or MindBank are leveraging to create digital replicas of people.
With the rise of generative AI, these digital ghosts are powered by models trained on personal data, creating a construct of people who are no longer alive. You can interact with them. Ask questions. Hold a conversation.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this. I understand that there are valid reasons for people reach to these experiences looking for ways to cope with the loss of a loved one. However, life is made up of cycles - from every end comes a new beginning. What are the consequences (for society and our minds) of extending this artificially?
Digital ghosts are just approximations. Real people are much more nuanced - it's what makes us humans! Are we heading to a future where we all live in a digital heaven?
Who knows...
