Meta Patents AI to Simulate Deceased Users' Activity

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been granted a patent for an artificial intelligence system designed to simulate a user's social media activity after their death or during extended absences. The technology, detailed in a filing approved last December and originally submitted in November 2023, would allow accounts to continue posting content, responding to messages and even conducting simulated audio or video calls based on the user's historical online behavior.

The patent describes a large language model trained on a person's past interactions, including posts, comments, likes, shares, chats and voice messages. This data would enable the AI to replicate the individual's writing style, tone and expressed views, generating new content that mimics how the user might have acted. For instance, the system could comment on friends' posts, like updates or send direct messages in the deceased person's voice. Officials at Meta, listed as the primary author on the filing, emphasized that the tool aims to preserve a user's digital presence on the platform, addressing the void left when someone stops participating permanently.

Andrew Bosworth, Meta's chief technology...