Companies around the world are working with artificial intelligence to allow people to live on after their death. Could grieving become a thing of the past?

Justin Harrison, founder of the app "You, Only Virtual”, enables the bereaved to communicate with virtual clones of their deceased loved ones - via text message or even a phone call. For J. R. Adams, whose mother was like a best friend to him, the virtual exchange means she continues to be part of his life.

Jason and Melissa Gowin are both seriously ill. They have each created a virtual copy of themselves so that their children can actively cherish their memories after their death.

At the heart of the so-called "digital afterlife industry” is the vision of precisely preserving a someone’s memories and stories so that they do not die with them.  But not everyone welcomes the development. Sociologist Holly Prigerson says technology can provide temporary support and comfort, but it cannot be a substitute for actually saying goodbye and coming to terms with the loss. 
 

 

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

MON 31.03.2025 – 18:30 UTC
MON 31.03.2025 – 23:30 UTC
TUE 01.04.2025 – 03:30 UTC
TUE 01.04.2025 – 09:15 UTC
TUE 01.04.2025 – 12:15 UTC
TUE 01.04.2025 – 16:15 UTC
TUE 01.04.2025 – 21:15 UTC
WED 02.04.2025 – 07:30 UTC
WED 02.04.2025 – 10:30 UTC
WED 02.04.2025 – 17:30 UTC

Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4