The Many Faces of Indeterminacy in Interactive Deadbots.

Area of Science:

• Digital Ethics and AI Governance
• Sociotechnical Studies of Emerging Technologies
• Digital Legacy and Mourning Practices

Background:

• Generative AI advancements have spurred the growth of the "digital afterlife industry."
• Interactive deadbots (IDBs) simulate conversations with deceased individuals using their likeness and data.
• IDBs are rapidly transitioning from niche experiments to mainstream phenomena, impacting societal norms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the disruptive influence of IDB technology through a multidisciplinary approach.
• To utilize the concept of indeterminacy as a framework for understanding the unstable field of IDBs.
• To introduce a structured map and taxonomy of indeterminacy manifestations in IDBs.

Main Methods:

• Multidisciplinary analysis of interactive deadbot technology.
• Application of indeterminacy as a guiding analytical framework.
• Development of a provisional taxonomy distinguishing five key domains of indeterminacy.

Main Results:

• IDBs amplify existing forms of indeterminacy within society and technology.
• Indeterminacy shapes the development and application of IDB systems.
• A structured map identifies technological, social, philosophical, legal, and regulatory indeterminacy in IDBs.

Conclusions:

• IDBs introduce significant ethical, social, legal, and governance challenges.
• Understanding indeterminacy is crucial for navigating the complexities of the digital afterlife.
• The study provides a framework for conceptualizing the fluid and nascent field of IDBs.