Business Insider revealed that Meta obtained a patent in late December describing a large linguistic model that "mimics" user activity across its platforms, responding to other people's posts as if it were the user.
The patent application, first filed in 2023, states: "The linguistic model can be used to simulate the user when they are absent, whether for a prolonged period of absence or even after death." Andrew Bosworth, technical director at Meta, is listed as the lead author of this patent.
Meta quickly denied any intention of implementing the idea, with a company spokesperson telling Business Insider: "We have no plans to move forward with this example."
The patent explains the company's motivation: "A user's cessation of posting, whether temporarily or permanently, impacts the experience of their followers." The document further states: "The impact is even more pronounced and lasting if the user dies and never returns to the platform."
The mechanism involves training an artificial intelligence model on previous user data (comments, likes, posts) to produce a digital version that mimics their interactions.
The spokesperson explained that registering patents does not necessarily mean developing the product, and the goal may simply be to protect intellectual property.
Edina Harbinga, a law professor at the University of Birmingham specializing in digital rights and post-mortem privacy, expressed her concern, saying: "The issue is not limited to legal aspects, but includes deep social, ethical and philosophical issues."
This isn't the first time Meta has dealt with the idea of digital legacy. In 2015, Facebook launched a feature allowing users to designate a "legacy contact" to manage their account after their death. And in 2023, Mark Zuckerberg discussed with broadcaster Lex Friedman the possibility of creating virtual avatars for the deceased.
Several startups are working in this field, which is referred to by multiple names, including "death robots," "ghost robots," and "grief technology," among others.
Harrison said, "Those in the technology sector have been thinking about this since the breakthroughs in generative artificial intelligence." He added, "The entry of major companies reflects a growing public acceptance of the idea. Current resources for dealing with grief are inadequate, and we have a moral obligation, if the means allow, to provide better alternatives."
In 2021, Microsoft patented a chatbot that mimics deceased people, as well as fictional characters and celebrities.
Harbinga believes that the "Meta" patent indicates the transition of these technologies from the margins to the mainstream.
The idea raises practical questions, such as: Does the feature apply to all "Meta" applications (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook), with the different nature of use? And can the model distinguish between degrees of formality and frankness on different platforms?
Joseph Davis, a sociology professor at the University of Virginia, expressed concern about the impact of these tools on how people cope with grief, saying, "Confronting the actual loss is one of the tasks of grieving." He added, "Let the dead be dead. The idea suggests bringing them back, but it doesn't. That ambiguity is the problem."
