The tech industry has found its way into various aspects of the business of death, according to culture journalist Mihika Agarwal. From digital estate planning to crowdfunding funeral costs and even turning ashes or hair into diamonds, there are a wide range of options gaining traction in this industry. Agarwal discusses her reporting on the grief tech industry, including the use of ghost bots, chatbots designed to help people process grief. The ethical concerns surrounding these technologies are complex, particularly regarding data privacy and consent. The post-mortem consumer protection landscape is still developing, with limited rights and regulations in place. The issue of digital inheritance and ownership is also a topic of debate. Agarwal coined the term “death technopreneurship” to describe the trend of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs entering the death industry. She notes the lack of mourning rituals in the United States and the tendency to distract and avoid grief rather than process it. The interview concludes with a discussion on a grief-tech CEO who hopes to eliminate grief altogether, sparking questions about the outsourcing of grief to technology.
Insights from the “grief tech” industry on navigating loss – Marketplace
