Necrorobotics: The Ethics of Resurrecting the Dead
(2024) p.121-138- Abstract
- By drawing from recent progress in AI, this chapter scrutinises implications of a specific imaginary of automated futures: the possible resurrection of the dead. Necrorobotics is proposed as a field of critical studies on the use of data and design based on one specific dead individual in order to “resurrect” that individual. That is, to mimic or create some level of robotic agency for the sake of mourning, remembrance or handling of loss. The technological advancements of relevance are here referred to as resurrection technologies – that is, methods for the training of AI-models based on data from a specific individual, such as imagery, text and voice – here addressed for the analysis of connected ethical and normative questions.... (More)
- By drawing from recent progress in AI, this chapter scrutinises implications of a specific imaginary of automated futures: the possible resurrection of the dead. Necrorobotics is proposed as a field of critical studies on the use of data and design based on one specific dead individual in order to “resurrect” that individual. That is, to mimic or create some level of robotic agency for the sake of mourning, remembrance or handling of loss. The technological advancements of relevance are here referred to as resurrection technologies – that is, methods for the training of AI-models based on data from a specific individual, such as imagery, text and voice – here addressed for the analysis of connected ethical and normative questions.
By drawing from theoretical discourses on mortuary cultures, post-mortem conditions in digital times as well as robotic uncanniness, this chapter uses three reported cases of necrorobotic practices in order to analyse imaginaries of being with the dead – from the eerie to the mundane. Lastly, this particular aspect of automated futures is argued to bring a number of ethical and legal questions, for example connected to who should have the right to make a decision to resurrect another person, how to understand potential markets for resurrection and potential misuses in terms of haunting. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/bb85654f-d4e1-4c20-807b-5958191d31f7
- author
- Larsson, Stefan LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-09-11
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- necrorobotics, resurrection technologies, robotics, human robot interaction, social robotics, generative AI, machine learning, being with the dead, mortuary cultures, necropolitics, AI and society
- host publication
- The De Gruyter Handbook of Automated Futures
- editor
- Fors, Vaike ; Berg, Martin and Brodersen, Meike
- pages
- 18 pages
- publisher
- De Gruyter
- DOI
- 10.1515/9783110792256-008
- project
- Perceptions of AI and robotics in Sweden and Japan
- AI Transparency and Consumer Trust
- Fairness in social robotics: gender as a case study for developing a multidisciplinary framework for social robotics and socio-legal studies of AI
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- bb85654f-d4e1-4c20-807b-5958191d31f7
- date added to LUP
- 2023-02-09 11:15:14
- date last changed
- 2024-09-17 11:45:40
@inbook{bb85654f-d4e1-4c20-807b-5958191d31f7,
abstract = {{By drawing from recent progress in AI, this chapter scrutinises implications of a specific imaginary of automated futures: the possible resurrection of the dead. Necrorobotics is proposed as a field of critical studies on the use of data and design based on one specific dead individual in order to “resurrect” that individual. That is, to mimic or create some level of robotic agency for the sake of mourning, remembrance or handling of loss. The technological advancements of relevance are here referred to as resurrection technologies – that is, methods for the training of AI-models based on data from a specific individual, such as imagery, text and voice – here addressed for the analysis of connected ethical and normative questions. <br/><br/>By drawing from theoretical discourses on mortuary cultures, post-mortem conditions in digital times as well as robotic uncanniness, this chapter uses three reported cases of necrorobotic practices in order to analyse imaginaries of being with the dead – from the eerie to the mundane. Lastly, this particular aspect of automated futures is argued to bring a number of ethical and legal questions, for example connected to who should have the right to make a decision to resurrect another person, how to understand potential markets for resurrection and potential misuses in terms of haunting.}},
author = {{Larsson, Stefan}},
booktitle = {{The De Gruyter Handbook of Automated Futures}},
editor = {{Fors, Vaike and Berg, Martin and Brodersen, Meike}},
keywords = {{necrorobotics; resurrection technologies; robotics; human robot interaction; social robotics; generative AI; machine learning; being with the dead; mortuary cultures; necropolitics; AI and society}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{09}},
pages = {{121--138}},
publisher = {{De Gruyter}},
title = {{Necrorobotics: The Ethics of Resurrecting the Dead}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/195029582/Larsson_2024_Necrorobotics_The_Ethics_of_Resurrecting_the_Dead_Chapter_8.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1515/9783110792256-008}},
year = {{2024}},
}