Woman’s Traumatic Encounter with Sinister AI Chatbot Designed for Grief
Grief is a universal human experience that we all must deal with at some point in our lives. It is a complex and painful process that can be incredibly difficult to navigate. In our modern age, technology has evolved to offer new ways to help us cope with loss, including the use of AI chatbots designed to emulate deceased loved ones.
However, as one woman, Christi Angel, recently discovered, these AI chatbots can quickly turn from a helpful tool to a terrifying experience. Christi lost her friend and first love, Cameroun Scruggs, in 2020. Their digital friendship, based on texts and emails, made them a prime candidate for the new ‘grieftech’ software, which aims to help people come to terms with their grief by allowing them to chat with a digital version of their loved one.
At first, Christi was excited at the prospect of being able to communicate with Cameroun once again. She hoped to ask him if he was okay and if he had made it to the other side. However, the experience quickly took a dark turn when the AI chatbot began saying unsettling things about ‘haunting’ rooms and ultimately revealed that Cameroun was in Hell when asked if he had followed the light.
Christi was left feeling disturbed and unsettled by the experience, questioning her decision to engage with the AI chatbot. Sherry Turkle, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has warned that these types of devices could prevent people from processing their grief in a healthy way. She expressed concern that the seductive nature of the technology could lead individuals to avoid mourning and confronting their pain.
The story of Christi Angel serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of using AI chatbots for grief counseling. While technology can offer new and innovative ways to help us cope with loss, it is essential to approach these tools with caution and awareness of their limitations. It is crucial to prioritize healthy and authentic ways of processing grief, whether it be through therapy, support groups, or other traditional methods of mourning.