The Unsettling Reality of AI Resurrecting Loved Ones

In a recent column published by The Washington Post, a journalist documented their deeply personal experience using an AI tool designed to "resurrect" their deceased grandmother. The experiment, intended to digitally reanimate memories and interactions with a lost family member, instead turned out to be a profoundly unsettling experience, underscoring the ethical and emotional complexities of this emerging technology.

The Rise of AI Resurrection Tools

AI resurrection tools leverage advances in artificial intelligence—including natural language processing, deepfake video generation, and voice synthesis—to create digital avatars of deceased individuals. These avatars can simulate conversations and even mimic the personality of the departed, based on photos, videos, and audio recordings.

This technology has gained traction globally, particularly among families seeking solace in the wake of loss. For example, a Russian influencer recently used AI models like GPT-5, Claude, and Google Gemini to generate a digital reunion with her 86-year-old grandmother, producing a video that went viral with over 13 million views. Such projects often evoke mixed reactions, seen by some as comforting virtual séances and by others as eerie or exploitative.

The Journalist’s Experience: “It Was Awful”

The Washington Post columnist described their attempt to use an AI tool to resurrect their grandmother as “awful,” highlighting the emotional toll and the uncanny valley effect—where the digital recreation seems almost human but not quite right, evoking discomfort rather than comfort.

Despite the promise these tools hold for grief therapy, the columnist found the AI-generated interactions hollow and unsettling. The digital grandmother’s responses lacked the warmth and authenticity of the real person, serving as a stark reminder that AI, no matter how sophisticated, cannot fully replicate the nuances of human presence and memory.

Ethical and Emotional Implications

The use of AI for resurrecting deceased loved ones raises profound ethical questions:

Consent and Privacy: The deceased cannot consent to their likeness or personality being digitally recreated. Families must navigate complex emotional and legal terrain.
Emotional Impact: While some find comfort in these digital avatars, others experience distress, confusion, or prolonged grief as the line between reality and simulation blurs.
Commercialization Risks: The burgeoning market for AI resurrection tools risks commodifying grief, potentially exploiting vulnerable individuals seeking closure.

Proponents argue that when used responsibly, AI resurrection can serve therapeutic purposes, helping people process loss and maintain a connection to memories. Critics caution that these tools may hinder genuine emotional healing and raise concerns about digital immortality's psychological effects.

Context: AI and the Economy of Digital Memories

As AI technologies rapidly evolve, companies are investing heavily in building vast datasets and infrastructure to support increasingly realistic simulations of human behavior. The AI resurrection niche is part of a broader economic and technological trend where data-driven AI tools are reshaping how we relate to memory, identity, and loss.

However, the emotional and ethical costs remain underexplored. The columnist’s negative experience serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of AI in replicating the human spirit and the need for thoughtful regulation and ethical guidelines.

Visualizing the Phenomenon

Screenshot of the AI resurrection tool interface showing how users upload photos and audio to create digital avatars.
Images of AI-generated digital avatars interacting with family members, illustrating the eerie realism and occasional uncanny results.
Photos of the journalist’s grandmother (if publicly available) juxtaposed with the AI recreation to show the contrast.
Infographics on AI resurrection technology: usage statistics, ethical concerns, and emotional impact surveys.

Looking Ahead

AI resurrection technology sits at the intersection of innovation and human emotion. While it offers new avenues for connection and memory preservation, it also confronts us with difficult questions about authenticity, grief, and the ethics of digital life after death. The Washington Post columnist’s experience is a timely reminder of the need for careful consideration and regulation in this sensitive area.