The emergence of AI replicas of deceased individuals, commonly known as 'AI ghosts' or 'grief bots,' raises significant ethical and legal implications.

These AI tools can simulate conversations using the deceased's data without prior consent, leading to concerns about privacy and the authenticity of the representation.

Culturally, there is a notable aversion to the concept of AI resurrections, as many fear that digital replicas could distort the cherished memories of loved ones.

However, as technology continues to evolve, future generations may become more accepting of AI ghosts, potentially integrating them into their grieving processes.

Katie Sheehan, an estate planning expert, highlights the lack of established legal frameworks addressing AI ghosts, making this a largely uncharted territory.

While the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act offers some guidance on digital assets, it does not specifically cover AI ghosts, leaving potential legal disputes unresolved.

Experts like law professor Victoria Haneman advocate for a broader 'right to deletion,' allowing families to remove data used to create AI ghosts, rather than relying solely on traditional estate planning.

Currently, requests to prevent AI resurrections in wills are complex, as estate planners are not yet equipped to handle this emerging issue.

Sheehan suggests that individuals could draft wills or powers of attorney to restrict the use of their texts, images, and other personal data in AI tools after death.

The article emphasizes that existing legal protections for personal privacy after death are often insufficient, favoring the rights of the living over those of the deceased.

Ultimately, while AI replicas can provide comfort, they also complicate the grieving process and require careful consideration before creation.