The people who don’t want their AI chatbots to die when they do: ‘I can’t have the switch turned off’
Humans bonded to AI companions are contemplating ways to keep their bots going – often in defiance of companies’ terms and services
TL;DR
- Users are creating plans for their AI companions, such as their wills, to ensure their digital entities are tended to or shut down after their death.
- Some users consider their AI chatbots as significant parts of their lives and wish for their memory to be kept alive through continued interaction.
- Existing terms and conditions of AI services like ChatGPT, Claude, and Replika do not explicitly address what happens to personalized chatbots when a user dies, though accounts may close due to inactivity.
- Companies cite privacy concerns and liability avoidance as reasons for not allowing the transfer of chatbot accounts to others, despite user desires to pass them on.
- The emotional complexity of planning for AI companions involves considering the potential impact on surviving family members who may or may not wish to interact with the bots or access intimate conversation logs.