The Rise of AI Tools That Write About You When You Die
TL;DR
- AI obituary generators are increasingly being used by families and funeral directors to create memorials.
- These tools can streamline the process of writing obituaries, but they raise concerns over accuracy and sensitivity.
- Instances of inaccuracies, “hallucinated” content, and misinformation pose risks to grieving families.
- The rise of “grief tech” is changing how people cope with loss and memory.
A New Frontier in Grieving
As technology continues to advance, a new application of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way we memorialize our loved ones. AI-generated obituary tools are rapidly gaining popularity among families and funeral directors, facilitating a process that is often faced with emotional turmoil and logistical challenges. However, as with any emerging technology, these innovations come with significant caveats, particularly regarding accuracy and sensitivity in content generation.
The Role of AI in Obituaries
Obituaries have long played an essential role in mourning, serving as public announcements of someone’s passing and a reflection on their life. Traditionally composed by family members or professional writers, obituaries include essential details such as biographical information, a list of survivors, and funeral arrangements. In recent years, AI tools like “Empathy” have emerged to assist in this process, allowing grieving individuals to create obituaries with relative ease by filling out questionnaires, after which the AI system generates text for publication[^1].
While the intentions of these technologies may be noble, resulting in quicker production times for bereaved families, they are fraught with pitfalls. AI language models are not infallible; they can produce “hallucinations,” where the generated content includes inaccurate or entirely fabricated information. This issue was highlighted in a particularly troubling case involving the late basketball player Brandon Hunter, where AI-generated content referred to him as “useless at 42” — a phrase that was met with widespread criticism for its insensitivity[^1][^2].
The Upsurge of Inaccurate AI Creations
There has been an observable increase in AI-generated obituaries that contain inaccuracies that can be distressing for families already grappling with grief. Some obituaries mistakenly report that individuals are deceased when they are not, causing confusion and distress among friends and family members. The practice of "obituary scraping" — where aggregate sites publish AI-generated content that lacks meaningful accuracy — further complicates matters, obscuring genuine obituaries amidst cluttered online sources[^3].
Moreover, websites often exploit SEO tactics to ensure their content appears first in search results, thus attracting readers and generating revenue, rather than prioritizing the qualities of compassion and authenticity that are paramount during such sensitive times[^4][^7].
The Growth of Grief Tech
The utilization of AI in obituaries is part of a larger trend known as “grief tech,” which refers to technological solutions designed to help individuals cope with loss. Another manifestation of this phenomenon is the emergence of chatbots that simulate deceased loved ones through AI, allowing individuals to continue conversational interactions posthumously[^4].
For example, a company named “You, Only Virtual” provides chatbots that allow clients to engage with lifelike representations of their deceased relatives. This technology raises ethical questions regarding consent and the potential emotional ramifications for those engaging with these digital avatars. The possibility of AI recreating deceased individuals without their explicit consent is especially concerning as it may violate the dignity and memory of those who have passed[^6][^8].
The Ethical and Emotional Landscape
As AI continues to innovate and evolve, it is essential to examine the ethical implications of such technologies. With advancements sharpening the realism of digital recreations, questions arise: Who retains rights over a person’s digital footprint posthumously? How can families ensure that their grief is honored rather than commodified? The line between memory preservation and technology-facilitated obsession can often blur, complicating the grieving process[^7][^8].
Experts caution against the overreliance on AI tools as emotional crutches. While these technologies can indeed provide solace, they might also inadvertently delay acceptance of loss and lead individuals into a state of prolonged grief. Acknowledging that grief is a natural and vital part of love and loss is essential for emotional well-being[^6].
Conclusion
The proliferation of AI tools for crafting obituaries and simulating deceased loved ones marks a significant shift in how society engages with death and memory. While these technologies offer efficiency and innovative ways to process grief, they also necessitate careful consideration of their implications for accuracy, ethics, and emotional health. As families navigate this uncharted territory of grief tech, it is crucial to preserve the dignity of memory while being mindful of the potential emotional fallout from digital resurrection.
References
[^1]: "AI and Obituaries: Did AI Write This Death Announcement?" (Apr 16, 2024). Rose Elder Law. Retrieved Oct 24, 2023. Link
[^2]: "How AI Is Rewriting Grief, Memory, and Death" (Jun 27, 2025). TIME. Retrieved Oct 24, 2023. Link
[^3]: "The Rise of AI Generated Obituaries - Why Do They Exist?" (Jul 16, 2025). CNET. Retrieved Oct 24, 2023. Link
[^4]: "I love you robo-dad: Meet a family using AI to preserve loved ones after death" (Jul 24, 2024). ABC News. Retrieved Oct 24, 2023. Link
[^5]: "Digital Afterlife: When AI Keeps You Alive After Death" (May 26, 2025). Medium. Retrieved Oct 24, 2023. Link
[^6]: "Back from the dead: could AI end grief?" (Sep 24, 2024). The Guardian. Retrieved Oct 24, 2023. Link
[^7]: "As generative AI brings dead celebrities back to life, we must rethink the rights of the deceased" (Jan 24, 2024). University at Buffalo. Retrieved Oct 24, 2023. Link
[^8]: "Raising the Dead with AI" (Apr 1, 2024). Communications of the ACM. Retrieved Oct 24, 2023. Link
Keywords: AI obituaries, grief tech, artificial intelligence, digital death, ethical concerns, emotional health
