Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a part of our daily lives. It is making unexpected things possible. It is creating animated videos from old family photos and crafting stories from our past too. Its capabilities are expanding at a rapid pace. But lately an unbelievable new frontier has emerged. Experts are concerned as it can help in communicating with the dead.

It is reported that researchers and technologists are exploring ways to use AI to connect with those who have passed away. Connecting with the dead has always been a human desire. Sherry Turkle, an MIT professor and long-time observer of human-technology relationships, said that the desire to communicate with the dead is timeless.

Turkle has a warning for all of us. He said that AI is being integrated into everyday life even faster than what social media did once. The emotional risks associated with rapid integration and particularly with technologies to connect with the deceased are profound.

The report cites a documentary titled “Eternal You.” It highlights the risks of presenting stories like that of Christi Angel from New York. Angel used an AI service called Project December to chat with a digital simulation of Cameroun, who died during the pandemic. The experience was priced tagged just $10 and the AI claimed to be in “hell” and threatened to “haunt” her.

Project December was created by Jason Rohrer and he acknowledged that AI can produce unpredictable and unsettling responses. He finds the outcomes fascinating and does not take responsibility for the emotional impact on users. The lack of accountability has sparked frustration. People are arguing that the creators should be responsible for the effects of their technology.