Microsoft has filed a patent that would allow the company to digitally revive deceased loved ones as AI chatbots, using the individual’s personal information.
Microsoft patents a new kind of AI chatbot
According to The Independent report, to create a chatbot that simulates a specific individual, Microsoft’s AI technology will use content such as ‘photos, voice data, social media posts, electronic messages’.
The concept of AI being used to replicate dead individuals is not new. It was famously shown in the Black Mirror episode, ‘Be Right Back.’
Besides that, Microsoft has taken the idea a step further by suggesting that a 2D or 3D model of a particular individual could potentially be developed, using an individual’s “images and depth information, or video data” to create a chatbot that has the same characteristics and behavior based on a specific individual’s digital output.
“The specific person [who the chat bot represents] may correspond to a past or present entity (or a version thereof), such as a friend, a relative, an acquaintance, a celebrity, a fictional character, a historical figure, a random entity, etc.,” explains the patent. “The specific person may also correspond to oneself (e.g., the user creating/training the chat bot.”
If this patent does lead to any meaningful tech, which is always a big question mark when it comes to patents, it’s worth noting that it will not be used for just creating AI chatbots of dead relatives. Microsoft’s technology could also be used for creating a chatbot for a popular figure or any fictional character.
Speaking with a favorite fictional character might be a cool experience. It might be a unique way to get people interested when learning history to have a conversation with a historical figure chatbot, but you might have to put some fact-checking in order to ensure that people don’t trick a chatbot to say anything crazy.
Not a new tech for some
For some individuals, this AI tech is already old. Kanye West purchased an AI hologram of Kim Kardashian’s father for Kim’s 40th birthday in October 2020. The hologram spoke like Robert Kardashian and during the conversation insisted that Kim become a lawyer and carry on his legacy.
Microsoft has an interesting history with chatbots. While many chatbots on Microsoft services can be used to perform specific tasks, other bots have been used in different ways.
Microsoft has an interesting background with chatbots. Microsoft has created several chatbots that can be used to perform specific tasks. However, the one we discussed in this story is something entirely different.
