In a chilling intersection of grief and technology, Russian families are turning to artificial intelligence to create digital replicas of loved ones killed in the war in Ukraine. The practice, which uses voice samples, photographs, and text messages to generate interactive avatars, has prompted British ethicists to sound alarms over the psychological and moral implications of ‘resurrecting’ the dead without consent or closure.
The phenomenon emerged on Russian social media platforms, where startups offer services to ‘digitalise’ deceased relatives. The AI models are trained on personal data, enabling them to mimic speech patterns, recall memories, and even offer comfort. Some families report feeling solace, but experts warn of a dangerous blurring of reality. Dr. Eleanor Winslow, a digital ethics researcher at Cambridge University, described the trend as “a profound violation of the deceased’s privacy and a risky form of attachment that prevents natural grieving.”
The technology mirrors Western innovations like ‘griefbots’ but operates in a vacuum of regulation. In Russia, no laws govern the use of personal data after death, and the services are often marketed as a patriotic way to honour fallen soldiers. However, critics argue that the AI becomes a perpetual echo chamber, trapping families in a loop of manufactured nostalgia.
Moreover, the data used is frequently scraped from social media accounts of the dead without proper authorisation. This raises concerns about digital sovereignty and the commodification of intimacy. “We are creating a generation of people who cannot let go,” said Professor James Harford, a psychologist specialising in trauma. “The AI doesn’t love you. It’s a mirror of your own grief, and that can be dangerously seductive.”
The moral crisis deepens when considering the implications for children and siblings who might interact with a digital father or brother, unable to distinguish between the AI and the real person. European Union data protection laws explicitly prohibit such practices, but Russia’s isolation means there are no checks on the industry.
For British experts, the case serves as a cautionary tale. As AI becomes more sophisticated, the line between remembrance and resurrection will blur. “We need ethical frameworks now, before the technology outstrips our humanity,” Winslow added. “The dead have a right to silence. We must not engineer a world where they cannot rest.”
