The Immortality Of Artificial Intelligence

What I’m about to share is not out of a science fiction novel – it’s actually something people are working on today. The world of artificial intelligence (AI) is exploring ways to immortalize our memories for future generations.

For example, in one AI application, you would be able to answer questions from your family through a form of an avatar after you’re gone.

In an article entitled,  Disrupting death: Technologists explore ways to digitize life, this was just one of the technologies being explored for humanity’s use after someone passes. According to the post there is a new application being developed called Augmented Eternity. This program would have the capability to

“…communicate memories of your life and answer questions on certain topics, such as your political views, depending on what information is stored in your data.”

But this gets even more interesting. Another organization was looking at ways to upload your brain content to the cloud. Mind you, they hit a major roadblock when they announced that the person would have to be euthanized in order for this to actually work.

So in the world of technology, just when you think you have finally unplugged, turns out you possibly haven’t.

What do you think? Do you like the idea of being uploaded after you’re gone to answer questions?

For me, I can see there being some value in my family having access to my memories when I’m no longer here. Sort of like replacing “Hey Google” or “Alexa” with “Hey Mom“. I can just imagine being “beamed up” to join the family for special occasions.

What was our family history for disease, what were some of our family traditions, what were my favourite recipes all stored in some database somewhere all available to be served up in an avatar of my choosing (of course my vanity would probably have me choose an avatar image from my earlier years).

I see this activity as being similar to a home genetic DNA test result – but on a much more intimate and personal level. Unlike our DNA, our memories are not what we are born with, it’s something that we have actually created and built up over time.

Of course my major concern with any of this is how this data would be stored and accessed. It's not so much for me personally (afterall, I would be gone) but depending on what is stored, I wonder if this information could possibly be mined to be used in a negative way against future generations.

For example, DNA genetic testing home test results are currently protected by privacy laws however there are risks that this position could potentially change. Insurance companies are already starting to use these tests to assess whether they are willing to sell someone insurance.

I would compare the capturing of this personal data in some ways similar to documenting things in a diary. Depending on what you write in your diary this could be something you don’t mind future generations reading about or not. But I think again it comes back to an individual’s choice and the conditions it’s shared.

However, that other idea in the article about my brain being uploaded to the cloud really freaks me out. Heaven knows what may be stored in my mind. I think this idea blurs so many ethical lines of what needs to be protected that this should be pushed back – and hard.

At any rate, one thing is for sure. Technology continues to expand and invade areas that we never thought it would - and potentially has the power to literally beam us into the future even after we're gone.