Context :
Grief tech: Therapists say AI, deepfake replicas of lost loved ones can help cope with loss
( Arabian Business / 18 May 2023 )
Extract :
People are turning to generative AI and deepfake technology as a means of preserving cherished memories and coping with the death of their loved ones.
The advent of these tools has allowed people to recreate digital replicas of the deceased, enabling a virtual reunion of sorts that may offer them some solace – a novel approach to navigate the complexities of grief.
Through machine learning algorithms, generative AI models analyse an extensive database of images and videos to extract patterns and facial features unique to the departed friend or family member. These virtual replicas of the dead can then be programmed to mimic speech, expressions and mannerisms, providing a remarkable resemblance of the person who has passed away.
However, with the prospect of immortalising a passed on loved one with deepfake technology by feeding AI with datasets of memories, images, and videos to create a digital version of them, it brings to question whether this is a healthy coping mechanism.
“Grief is an internal experience of loss consisting of a highly complex set of thoughts and feelings and is an instinctive human response. While there are stages of grief, we do not experience the stages in a linear manner, nor will we experience all stages or in the same manner as someone else,” Tanya Dharamshi, Counselling Psychologist and Lead Community Services at Lighthouse Arabia’s Raymee Grief Centre in Dubai, told Arabian Business.
“AI may impact the grieving process and prolong the acceptance of the death by providing an alternate reality of the deceased.”
While the use of deepfake tech has raised concerns over potential misuse, particularly when it comes to scams, experts believe that in the realm of grief and healing, these tools can be quite transformative.
Those grappling with the profound pain of loss may be able to find solace and closure, allowing them to,
# hear their voice once more,
# see their smile, and
# experience a virtual connection
- that might ease the ache of absence and offer them a chance to express unfinished conversations or seek closure.
However, as this emerging trend gains momentum in the age of AI, ethical considerations arise.
Balancing the potential benefits and drawbacks of such tools is crucial because grief is a deeply personal journey that must be approached with caution and sensitivity.
“Using AI to recreate a deepfake animation or a time-progressed image of the deceased might be helpful for some of the persons left behind – or not,” said Simoglou.
“If they feel that these AI products help them process and deal with their loss, then the use of AI might be considered as a coping mechanism.”
Simoglou said she would recommend the use of AI for grief therapy, but only after the person has “fully acknowledged and accepted their loss, and they are not living in denial.”
Denial is a normal part of the grieving process, she explained.
“When grieving, we might see a person alternate between states of denial and states of acceptance. Deepfakes can cause a person to act or feel as the deceased is still there, thus feed into the state of denial and have the potential to keep the grieving person stuck there,” she added.
“Healing and reinvesting life with the living comes from acceptance of loss.”
“As human species, we need positive meaningful relationships,” said Dharamshi.
“AI only provides what we feed it – our version of the memories, thoughts and images. It can be useful for those of us who need to gain closure through expression of held emotions and therefore used as a traditional tool for interim coping.”
Dharamshi explained that using such tools for interim coping should be used with the intention of ensuring the person grieving eventually comes to a place of acceptance.
AI and the future of grief therapy
As generative AI and deepfake technology continue to evolve and seep their way into the mainstream in all areas of life, the power of these tools to reshape the grieving process cannot be understated, making way for new use cases in grief therapy.
Simoglou suggested that AI-generated time-progressed images of deceased youth might be a new use case in the field of grief therapy.
“Being able to see what a person would look like had they gotten the chance to grow old, deepfake animations or metaverse characters, seem like different applications of AI to grief.
“As technology becomes more prevalent in all fields, recreated images of deceased individuals might feel less and less uncanny. They might become a way to keep alive an imagined version of the deceased and remain connected to them, and although not tangible, that recreation might feel soothing and comforting.”
Although this seems like an easy way to bring someone back from the dead, Dharamshi said that creating AI avatars of deceased persons by using images and videos of their personal and private memories without their consent raises privacy and ethical concerns.
Simoglou agreed, advising people to let their emotions “flow freely” without trying to censor them.
“The more an emotion is suppressed, the more it craves recognition and it aggravates.
Talk about the deceased as frequently as you need to, find ways to keep their memory alive, give yourself time to reflect on your loss and be patient, and keep up with your self-care and exercise routine.
MY TAKE :
https://www.hemenparekh.ai/ ……… launched 10 Feb 2023
Extract :
This is my Digital Avatar, powered / serviced by Personal.ai. This is my attempt to attain Virtual Immortality.
Here you can chat with my avatar by asking questions - now and long after I am gone.
You can start a chat by asking:
"Hey Hemen, what are your views on……………"
Rest assured about your anonymity. No one will know that you asked this question. Even I don't.
Hurry up to create your own Avatar - then invite your contacts to chat with you. Imagine, chatting up with a hundred or a thousand of your visitors simultaneously - at the same time.
Robot : A Therapeutic Machine ?................... 09 Oct 2016
Extract :
Paro , a robot baby seal marketed by Japanese company, Intelligent System Co Ltd , acts as a therapeutic machine to soothe elderly dementia sufferers
Toyota, sees its own robot , Kirobo Mini as a stepping stone to more advanced robots that will be able to recognize and react to human emotions "
Do Indian Start-Ups see an opportunity here for offering to the World's frustrated / depressed / dejected millions , an online / profitable " Social Service " managed by real humans , with whom , no robot , however advanced , can compete ?
They should have absolutely no doubt re the viability of such " Service Offering " , after reading my following blog
And what better choice of a day than today - The World Mental Health Day - to offer to the World , some " Not-So-Robot " sympathizing friends !
Share - Your - Soul / Outsourcing Unlimited .. ……………………………. 24 July 2016
Highlights ( For details, read this blog ) :
( A ) VEHICLE
( B ) USERS
( C ) REGISTRATION FORM
( D ) SEARCHING DATABASE OF LISTENERS
( E ) SERVICE CHARGE
( F ) PAYMENT MECHANISM
( G ) PROCESS
( H ) REPUTATION SYSTEM
( I ) USAGE HISTORY
( J ) PRIVACY
( K ) PROMOTING THE SERVICE
( L ) BUSINESS MODEL
Thank You, Shri Ratan Tata .. ……………………………. 17 Aug 2022
Extract :
Former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, who has been an active backer of startups, has announced an investment in startup Goodfellows.
The startup offers companionship to senior citizens as a service.
Goodfellows was founded by Shantanu Naidu [ shantanu@tatatrust.org ]
At the launch of Goodfellows, Ratan Tata said, “You do not know what it is like to be lonely until you spend time alone wishing for companionship."
Speaking at the launch, Ratan Tata said no one cares about getting old until they actually get old.
Addressing Ratan Tata as a boss, a mentor and also a friend, founder Shantanu Naidu said there are 50 million old people who are living by themselves and have no one to share their lives with.
Goodfellows [ +91,87795,24307 / contact@goodfellows.in ],
- hires youngsters who have the skills of empathy and emotional intelligence to work as the companions of senior citizens. They are also required to ease their day or help them with any task.
Shantanu Naidu said it wants to scale up across the country but would prefer to go slow without compromising on the quality of the companions it hires
Ratan Tata said he would be delighted for this service to grow and mature into something which innovatively changes people’s lives.
Dear BARD :
Here are two , somewhat related , situations , viz :
# Millions of very lonely OLD persons around the World, wanting someone to talk to . Since, there are just a few young “ volunteers “ , to reach out to such old persons PHYSICALLY and “ Talk – Listen “ , I have envisaged and suggested an ONLINE PLATFORM , which can , cater to a million SIMULTANEOUS interactions
# A few persons ( Old or Young ) , who have lost a loved one ( could be Old or Young ), wanting to “ recreate “ using DEEPFAKE and AI , their DIGITAL AVATARS, and draw solace from this “ make believe “ world
It is not a question of “ either or “ ( mutual exclusivity ). Both approaches have their pluses and minuses
Even then , which one do you believe is more urgently needed ? Which would benefit the Society ?
You may want to TABULATE your comments by comparing these two methods and listing their benefits and shortcomings
This is how BARD replied :
Sure, here is a table comparing the two methods:
Method | Benefits | Shortcomings |
Online platform for talking to lonely old people | * Can reach millions of people simultaneously. * Can provide companionship and support to those who are isolated. * Can be a cost-effective way to provide social services. | * Can be difficult to find enough volunteers to staff the platform. * The quality of the interactions may vary depending on the volunteers. * The platform may not be able to provide the same level of intimacy and connection as a face-to-face interaction. |
Digital avatars of deceased loved ones | * Can provide a way to connect with loved ones who have passed away. * Can help people to grieve and to process their loss. * Can be a source of comfort and support. | * The avatars may not be realistic or accurate representations of the deceased. * The use of avatars may prolong the grieving process or prevent people from moving on. * There are ethical concerns about the use of personal data to create avatars. |
Which method is more urgently needed?
The need for both methods is urgent, but the online platform for talking to lonely old people is likely to have a greater immediate impact. There are millions of lonely old people around the world who are in need of companionship and support. The online platform could provide them with a way to connect with others and to feel less isolated.
Which method would benefit society more?
Both methods could benefit society, but the digital avatars of deceased loved ones could have a more long-term impact. The avatars could help people to grieve and to process their loss in a healthy way. They could also provide a way to keep the memories of loved ones alive.
My take
I believe that both methods are valuable and that they could be used together to provide a more comprehensive approach to helping people who are grieving or who are lonely. The online platform could provide immediate support, while the digital avatars could provide long-term support.
I also believe that it is important to be aware of the potential shortcomings of both methods. The online platform could be difficult to staff, and the quality of the interactions may vary. The digital avatars may not be realistic or accurate representations of the deceased, and there are ethical concerns about the use of personal data to create them.
Despite these shortcomings, I believe that both methods have the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of people who are grieving or who are lonely. I hope that they will be developed and used in a way that maximizes their potential benefits.
And here is how ChatGPT replied to the same prompt :
Apologies for the formatting issue. Here is the corrected version:
Online Platform for Loneliness | Deepfake for Grief Therapy | |
Benefits | - Provides a platform for millions of lonely individuals to connect and talk with others. | - Allows individuals to recreate digital replicas of their lost loved ones. |
- Overcomes physical limitations by allowing simultaneous interactions. | - Enables a virtual reunion that may offer solace and closure. | |
- Offers a chance for old persons to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. | - Allows people to hear the voice, see the smile, and have a virtual connection with the deceased. | |
- Helps alleviate loneliness and provides companionship. | - Provides an opportunity for unfinished conversations and seeking closure. | |
- Provides an outlet for emotional expression and connection. | ||
Shortcomings | - Relies on volunteers, and there may be a shortage of young volunteers to physically reach out to the elderly. | - Raises ethical concerns regarding consent, privacy, and the potential for prolonging the acceptance of death. |
- May not fully replicate the experience of in-person interactions. | - Can lead to an alternate reality of the deceased, potentially inhibiting the acceptance of loss. | |
- Deepfakes may feed into denial and keep the grieving person stuck in that state. | ||
- Does not address the core healing process and acceptance of loss. | ||
Urgency | Both approaches are valuable and cater to different needs. | Both approaches are valuable and cater to different needs. |
- The online platform for loneliness is urgently needed to address the isolation and lack of companionship experienced by millions of lonely elderly individuals. | - Deepfake for grief therapy can provide solace and closure to individuals grieving the loss of a loved one. | |
Societal Benefit | - Helps combat loneliness, which can have negative effects on mental and physical health. | - Offers a novel approach to navigating the complexities of grief and provides a potential source of comfort and closure for grieving individuals. |
- Fosters social connections and reduces feelings of isolation. | - May assist in the healing process and allow individuals to express emotions and reflect on their loss. |
In this updated comparison, the benefits and shortcomings of both approaches are listed, and the table provides a fair assessment of their respective advantages and considerations
No comments:
Post a Comment