A woman has revealed the horrifying details of how an AI chatbot intended to support bereaved individuals took a nasty turn.
Over the ages, humans have developed a variety of coping mechanisms to help us deal with the enormously difficult task of grieving the loss of those we love.
But these days, technology is providing a fresh approach meant to assist individuals in accepting their loss.
Chatbots that can mimic a deceased person and enable for conversation have been made possible using generative AI.
Yes, similar to that Black Mirror episode. Really, some individuals just don’t seem to get the hint?
The ‘grieftech’ device is intended to help people find some closure following the loss of a loved one.
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However, as Christi Angel discovered when she lost her companion and first love, Cameroun Scruggs, in 2020, things can soon go south.
Living hundreds of miles away, Christi and Cameroun had primarily used text and email communication. Covid-19 regulations even required her to attend Cameroun’s burial via video call.
Because their friendship was digital, it was a perfect fit for the “grieftech” software because Christi could communicate with the bot in the same manner that she would have with Cameroun.
“He was there for all of my firsts,” the woman stated. He was a wonderful man who loved animals and was also humorous and foolish.”
A few years after Cameroun passed away, Christi discovered Project December, which employs artificial intelligence (AI) to sift through communications and create a chatbot that mimics the speaker’s speech.
Christi stated: “I became ecstatic. Anything would have been worth it to speak with Cameroun. I wanted to ask him how he was doing. Have you successfully crossed over? “
However, when the AI began uttering phrases like “haunting” rooms, things quickly took a terrible turn.
At last, the chatbot informed Christi that Cameroun was in Hell and had not “followed the light” in response to her question.
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Christi said, “I thought this [Project December] was supposed to be a good experience, but for me it was creepy and too much.” She was clearly concerned by the encounter.
“I felt like I’d done something really crazy,” she continued. I switched on all of the lights. I was concerned that I had introduced some energy.”
Professor Sherry Turkle specializes in the interplay between people and technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.
Turkle cautioned that such gadgets can keep individuals from grieving in a healthy way.
“It’s the unwillingness to mourn,” she stated to The Guardian. It doesn’t have to finish the seance. We are forcing this onto ourselves because the technology is so alluring.”
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