Beyond Death
Psychological, Ethical, and Sociological Consequences of Digital Immortality in AI and the Metaverse (in progress)
RESEARCH
3/31/20251 min read


As artificial intelligence (AI) and Metaverse technologies advance at lightning speed, the emergence of AI-driven digital twins that are virtual replicas of deceased individuals presents significant psychological, ethical, and sociological dilemmas. This study seeks to explore the consequences of digital immortality at a high-level, focusing on its impact on grief processing, ownership rights over posthumous AI identities, and shifts in societal attitudes toward death. Using a mixed-method, integrative investigation approach, we will conduct ethnographic studies on users interacting with AI memorialization, psychological assessments of grief outcomes, and legal analyses of posthumous digital identity ownership. Furthermore, we will conduct policy research and examine the regulatory lag surrounding digital immortality. By providing an evidence-based framework for ethical AI development and legislative action, this study will offer critical guidance on shaping responsible digital afterlife practices before they become an entrenched societal norm.
Imagine that a few months after your father passes away, you receive a notification on your phone: “Say hi to Dad!” Your breath catches and you freeze. His perfect digital twin appears, trained on years of text messages, emails, voice recordings, photos and video calls. His AI-driven avatar is indistinguishable from the real man that you loved and lost, he then smiles at you through the screen and says, "Hey kiddo, how was your day? I miss you so much" For a moment, it feels like he’s still here, with you…but he is not, at least in the physical sense.
Your fingers hover over the keyboard on your mobile. Should you respond? Would it bring you comfort - or just prolong your grief? As AI and digital twin technology evolve, more people will face this question: when the dead can talk back, what does it mean for the living?