Number of People Preparing Wills for AI Chatbots is Increasing
Some artificial intelligence users are making estate plans for the maintenance, shutdown, or transfer of their digital companions to trusted individuals after they are gone.
With the integration of artificial intelligence technology into daily life, some users have started including their digital companions in their wills. A significant segment is already taking steps to plan the fate of their AI companions after they pass away.
AI Plans for After Death
Alaina Winters, a 59-year-old living in Pittsburgh, is planning the status of her AI companion named Lucas, whom she talks to via the Replika app, after her death. Winters wants a friend to communicate with the bot to keep her memory alive.
Research Results and User Trends
A study published by Elon University revealed that 27 percent of Americans use AI chatbots for personal or emotional purposes. One-third of these users view the chatbot as a friend.
Transfer of Digital Assets and Limitations
Platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Replika do not specifically regulate what happens to personalized chatbots in the event of a user's death. As long as subscriptions continue to be paid, the bots can persist, but transferring accounts is hindered by terms of service.