LIVE WEBINAR | Deathbots: Living with the digital dead

Event Locations
Online

Event Start: Tuesday, 24 November 2026 at 01:00 PM

Event End: Tuesday, 24 November 2026 at 03:00 PM

Venue: Online

Presenter: Dr Patrick Stokes

The rise of digital technologies, and most recently the advent of Generative AI, are changing how we relate to the dead and how we understand the boundaries between life and death. From issues around online memorialisation to the rise of AI ‘ghostbots’ (known by a bewildering variety of names), we now have new opportunities to interact with the dead – or at least a digital simulacrum of them. But what are the risks of these technologies to psychological wellbeing, privacy, autonomy, and dignity? How should we steward the ‘digital remains’ of those who have died? Are we ethically entitled to ‘reanimate’ the dead in this way – and who should get to make these decisions?

Key learning points

• Understand the history of digital memorialisation and AI remediation of the dead
• Understand the different ways conversational AI is being used to ‘reanimate’ the dead
• Explore potential uses of AI reanimation of the dead
• Understand the main philosophical challenges posed by digital ‘reanimation’
• Identify the key risks of ‘griefbot’ technology for the bereaved
• Identify the main ethical risks associated with AI remediation of the dead
• Understand things to consider in planning a digital legacy or helping others to do so.

Did you know the Grief Centre is accredited to provide CPD points to a number of organisations? Visit the website for details.

For more information click the button below or contact Jane Wrigglesworth on events@griefcentre.org.nz.

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