Griefbots and the New Afterlife: How AI is Changing the Ways We Mourn | Dylan Thomas Doyle | TEDxCU
If you could talk to a loved one after they’ve died, would you? In this emotional and deeply personal talk, a minister-turned-AI-researcher shares stories from the hospital bedside and explores how new technologies like griefbots are changing the way we face death. This talk explores how cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence are opening new possibilities for remembrance, storytelling, and human connection. Rev. Dr. Dylan Thomas Doyle is a User-Experience Researcher, AI Policy Analyst, and ordained Minister focused on making emerging technologies safer, fairer, and more human-centered. He combines expertise in algorithmic fairness, AI governance, and emotional well-being design to develop ethical, actionable solutions for high-risk tech platforms. Dylan’s work spans from designing online bereavement support tools to analyzing how AI systems impact vulnerable communities in real-world settings. With a Ph.D. in Information Science and industry experience at companies like Yahoo! and Verizon Media, Dylan brings both rigorous research and hands-on product insight. His background as a Unitarian Universalist parish minister and interfaith hospital chaplain and coalition builder in responsible tech uniquely positions him to ask not just what we can build with AI—but what we should. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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