In modern times, the concept of preserving the memory of deceased loved ones has taken on a new dimension. With the aid of advanced language models like ChatGPT, the idea of creating more sophisticated chatbots simulating the personalities of the departed has gained traction. Yet, this pursuit of maintaining the presence of the deceased within the digital realm often disregards the substantial effort and labour required to sustain such automated systems.
The Burden of Digital Death Care
While the notion of conversing with a digital replica of a loved one may seem enticing, the intricate mechanisms that keep such chatbots operational are frequently overlooked. Similar to the arduous responsibilities of managing generative AI systems, the maintenance of replicas of the deceased involves a significant amount of labour.
From acquiring access to digital estates through passwords and account details to the meticulous handling of inherited smartphones that gradually fall into disrepair, digital death care necessitates continuous attention. Behind the scenes, the efforts of carers and an intricate network of human and non-human components play a crucial role in sustaining digital heirlooms for future generations.
The task of preserving electronic records in accessible and usable formats demands considerable resources in terms of time, energy, and human involvement. This poses challenges not only for archivists and institutions but also for individuals who aspire to safeguard the digital possessions of their departed family members.
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The Inevitable Decay of Digital
Despite the aspiration of creating perpetually functioning automated systems, the reality is that devices, formats, and online platforms are susceptible to deterioration, mirroring the mortality of humans. This fundamental truth highlights the stark contrast between what people envision and the practicality of ensuring the longevity of digital technologies.
In other words, the very systems tasked with preserving the digital legacy of the deceased are subject to planned obsolescence, resulting in their eventual demise. The experiences of individuals entrusted with maintaining the digital artefacts of departed loved ones underscore the disparities between expectations and realities. Early endeavours to develop AI-driven replicas of deceased individuals offer poignant examples of this phenomenon.
For example, Virtual Eternity, a project from Intellitar based in Scottsdale, Arizona, aimed to simulate human personalities using images and speech patterns. However, the company’s eventual downfall in 2012 led to the disappearance of its website. Similarly, LifeNaut’s ambitious undertaking to create full-fledged human simulations relies on outdated software. All of this underscores the challenges associated with achieving digital immortality.
Generative AI and the Quest for Authentic Replicas
In the case of generative AI, the potential to craft highly convincing replicas of both living and deceased individuals has ignited speculation. The prospect of creating exact copies that are nearly indistinguishable from their dead human counterparts holds both promises and challenges.
However, the pursuit of such endeavours requires substantial resources, including raw materials, water, and energy. In an era characterised by growing concerns over climate change, the feasibility of maintaining chatbots simulating deceased individuals becomes questionable, especially given the astronomical financial costs.
Perhaps the most dazzling example is ChatGPT, which purportedly costs a staggering $700,000 per day to maintain. This financial burden raises questions about the sustainability of using such resources to enable digital immortality. The impracticality of this model underscores the importance of re-evaluating the means through which we approach preserving the memory of the departed.
Ethical Considerations and Authority
In an attempt to create replicas of the deceased, ethical dilemmas arise regarding who holds the authority to initiate and control these simulations. The decision-making process surrounding the creation of digital replicas raises questions about the involvement of family members and other parties. Not everyone may desire to be reincarnated as a chatbot, which highlights the necessity of considering the wishes of the departed.
An example of this ethical complexity can be seen in the story of Joshua Barbeau, who created a chatbot replica of his deceased fiancee Jessica using OpenAI’s GPT-3. While the chatbot served as a coping mechanism for Barbeau, his family members chose not to engage in the simulation. This underscores the importance of recognising the diverse perspectives and desires of those affected by these simulations.
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Power Dynamics and Digital Production
The very act of resurrecting the deceased through AI-based simulations unveils the inherent power of labour, infrastructure, and power dynamics involved in digital production. While creating lifelike replicas of the departed is achievable, these replicas rely on the sustained efforts of the living.
Just as with broader digital legacies, preserving these replicas involves a number of tasks. This includes managing domain names, filtering spam messages, updating file formats, and transferring data between storage devices. The emotional weight of caring for digital replicas of the deceased, coupled with the persistent demand for upkeep, may prove overwhelming for those left behind.
Conclusion
The endeavour to preserve the memory of deceased loved ones within the digital landscape presents a myriad of challenges. To truly honour the departed and their legacies, it is imperative to acknowledge the labour-intensive nature of maintaining digital replicas. Decisions regarding authority, ethics, and sustainability have to be approached with sensitivity and foresight.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Was the First Ever Chatbot Created?
The first chatbot in the field of Computer Science was ELIZA. It was created and developed by Joseph Weizenbaum at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The term chatterbot was coined in 1994.
What Was the First AI Project Ever Created?
The first AI-driven project was the Logic Theorist, developed by Herbert Simon and Allen Newell in 1955. It was a programme that could prove mathematical theorems using heuristic rules and symbolic logic.
What Are the Disadvantages of Digital Death Care?
Digital death care can create confusion, dependency, and unrealistic expectations for those who interact with chatbot replicas of deceased people. It poses risks to privacy, security, and identity for both the living and the dead.