Closure from beyond the grave

Would you talk to an AI version of someone you had lost?

It may sound unsettling, but a small study found that some people found the experience comforting.

Researchers asked 16 volunteers to speak with chatbots designed to copy deceased loved ones.

Most participants enjoyed the conversations, even when the AI made up facts or got details wrong.

What mattered more was whether the chatbot sounded like the person.

Participants noticed when the AI used the wrong tone, skipped emojis or used nicknames their loved one would never have said.

Some said the chats felt real and gave them a sense of closure.

However, the study only included people who were already open to the idea.

The conversations were also closely supervised, with a researcher checking every reply before it reached the participant.

That level of protection is unlikely to exist in the real world.

Experts say AI griefbots could help some people, but they also raise concerns about emotional dependence, misleading replies and a lack of clear safeguards.

Just hurry up and make the Black Mirror episode already! - MV