Interviewing 26 users: Deadbot interactions blur AI-generated memories with real recollections of the dead
ArtificialOther · x · 2026-10-29
A new arXiv paper, "Remember You," studies Deadbots—generative AI simulations of the deceased. Based on in-depth interviews with 26 users:
- Users are active constructors, not passive recipients: through selective input, ongoing adjustments and imaginative supplementation, they build an idealized digital figure blending authentic memories with personal expectations;
- Deadbots offer a private grief space free of social pressure and a channel to address unresolved emotions;
- Memory evolves dynamically: from early reinforcement and idealization to a later stage where AI-generated new memories blur with authentic recollections;
- This blurring raises ethical concerns about memory distortion and dependency, prompting calls for clinical research on long-term AI-mediated grieving.
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