By Emmanuelle Marceau
Publication Date: 2026-04-29 13:29:00
Due to recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI), it is now possible to digitally “resurrect” and interact with dead people.
These “resurrections” are sometimes voluntary and planned, but sometimes they occur without the consent of families or loved ones. Man has always dreamed of living forever. But what should we think of this new way of “artificially” extending our existence? Is it desirable? What are the main ethical questions raised by the emergence of “griefbots” or “deadbots”?
As an associate professor at the School of Public Health (ESPUM) at the Université de Montréal, I am an ethicist and researcher specializing in governance, ethics, law, AI and responsible research conduct.
I lead a research project called Artificial Immortality: Ethical, Legal, and Artistic Perspectives. As part of this project, I and two students published an article on the ethical considerations of artificial immortality.
