Barely Deceased begins at the funeral of Mr. Tony Satriale. The late Mr. Satriale was a client of ReCreators Memorial, a fictional death technopreneurship company that uses artificial intelligence to generate a facsimile of Tony. To do this the company took images, video and voice clips of the dearly departed and posthumously loved ones can simulate a conversation with him. During Tony’s funeral the funeral house honors his final wishes and they debut AI Tony to the shagrin of the family who were all but disturbed and creeped out at first. However, Tony’s mother’s initial reaction subsides and in her grief stricken state talks to AI Tony non-stop for a week. The podcast looks at a typical loving family that at first may seem crass and visceral, yet the episode raises the following complex issues of:  

Creating potentially confused and distressed users due to dissemination of unreliable information because no proper oversight or verification process exists. 

Collecting user’s personal information for improper or undisclosed purposes while exposing the sensitive data to the risk of hacking.

Increasing liability issues, particularly regarding the likeness of individuals. Defamatory or upsetting content could result in legal damages, introducing questions about who is at fault in such circumstances.

Propagating AI biases because of the data the system is built on, where favour is shown to a thing, person or group when compared to another in a manner that is often unfair. Thus, perpetuating systemic problems through these technologies.

Leading innocent dependencies to elevate and exasperate, where one relies on AI for shopping and neglects physical health and social interactions. 

Exploiting vulnerable users’ emotions for profit. These platforms may be designed to be addictive and foster emotional connections to inanimate objects, perhaps leading to a disconnection from reality.

Posing as a financial risk to users as some grief tech platforms may require subscriptions or other financial commitments.

Increasing the possibility that AI becomes too smart and potentially reaches artificial general intelligence (AGI), raising questions about control and regulations.

Impacting users’ sense of self, causing a diminished sense of identity and self-understanding.

Introducing disruptive grief tech could potentially lead to social unrest if not properly managed. Governance of these technologies is crucial, and lawmakers must keep pace with technological advancements to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place. Sadly, this rarely happens in a timely manner.

Using AI in business and it possibly impacting the workforce by displacing workers and generating labour issues.

In conclusion, while grief tech offers valuable support and resources for individuals navigating grief, it is vital to approach these technologies carefully and with an awareness of the ethical considerations and potential dangers real or perceived. By addressing these issues we can use the potential of grief tech to support individuals in their grief journey responsibly.