AI technology for digital mourning and grief

The use of artificial intelligence to simulate the presence of deceased individuals is emerging through both specialized technical developments and broader social media trends.

In Japan, a developer has created a personalized home system called ‘Solaris no Madobe’ (Window of Solaris). This system utilizes high-performance hardware and generative AI models, such as MiniMax H3 and Krea 2, to produce life-sized video projections of a departed loved one. The technology uses LoRA training and Large Language Models to generate video clips that simulate a natural, life-sized presence.

Concurrently, a trend has emerged on social media platforms where users request the animation of old photographs to show deceased relatives smiling or hugging. Experts link this behavior to the psychological concept of ‘continuing bonds,’ where technology facilitates a sense of connection during grief. While some view these digital interventions as tools for maintaining memory-based connections, the phenomenon highlights a growing intersection between digital technology and the mourning process.