The ancient human yearning for immortality is rapidly colliding with the cutting edge of artificial intelligence, redefining not just what it means to live, but what it means to be dead. In a recent WIRED "Incognito Mode" segment, host Andrew Couts delved into the burgeoning "death tech" industry, exploring the fantastical promises of cryogenics alongside the increasingly tangible realities of AI avatars and digital legacies. This intersection of technology and mortality presents a complex landscape for founders, VCs, and AI professionals, replete with both profound opportunities and unforeseen ethical quagmires.
Couts began by addressing the more traditional, albeit still speculative, pursuit of immortality: cryopreservation. The process, involving the freezing of legally deceased bodies in liquid nitrogen with the hope of future revival, is a costly endeavor, ranging from $30,000 to $200,000. Despite around 600 people worldwide having opted for this, and thousands more signed up, the scientific consensus remains clear. As Couts pointed out, "To date, there's not been a single person who's been cryogenically preserved, who's been successfully defrosted and brought back to life. And scientists don't even believe it's on the horizon." This stark reality underscores cryogenics as a long-shot bet on future medical breakthroughs, a testament to humanity's deep-seated desire to cheat death, even if the current technology falls far short.
However, the more immediate and impactful frontier of death tech lies in artificial intelligence. The industry, valued globally at an estimated $125 billion, is leveraging AI to recreate human presence in various digital forms. Grief bots, the most basic iteration, are text-based chatbots trained on an individual's digital communications. More advanced versions, as Couts noted, "can have private conversations like emails, text messages, or other writing uploaded to create the chatbot." These can offer a semblance of continued interaction, providing a digital echo of a lost loved one.
Beyond text, AI avatars are bringing visual and auditory fidelity to the digital afterlife. These range from AI-generated videos allowing virtual "FaceTime" calls with the deceased to sophisticated 3D recreations. A compelling example highlighted was the appearance of Christopher Pelkey, a man fatally shot in a 2021 road rage incident, in court via an AI replica to deliver a victim impact statement. His family used AI to give him a voice, a poignant and unprecedented use of the technology. Pelkey's avatar stated, "Just to be clear for everyone seeing this, I am a version of Chris Pelkey recreated through AI that uses my picture and my voice profile." This demonstrates AI's capacity to extend personal presence into contexts previously unimaginable, transforming legal and emotional landscapes.
Yet, this burgeoning field is not without its shadows. The rapid advancement of AI in death tech outpaces regulatory frameworks, creating a fertile ground for misuse and psychological distress. Experts warn of "AI hauntings," where surviving family members could be inundated with unsolicited notifications and marketing from AI chatbots of deceased loved ones, akin to being "digitally stalked by the dead." This raises critical questions about consent and the ongoing emotional burden on the bereaved.
