Funeral Planning Advice from a Chatbot

Word to the Wise Newsletter

March 2023

Artificial Intelligence and the Funeral Industry

If you follow the news, you’ve likely seen many stories lately about artificial intelligence. From bots that write essays and create images to videos where you can’t tell real from imagined, AI is everywhere these days. AI has the potential to transform many industries, including the funeral industry.

This month’s newsletter highlights the questions we are asking about the potential impact of AI on how we plan for funerals, memorialize our loved ones, and how some funeral homes are incorporating AI into their day-to-day operations. While it’s too early to say whether artificial intelligence will impact the funeral business for the good or the bad, it’s safe to say it will most certainly change it. We’ll keep watching as AI matures and keep you posted on how it shapes the industry.


An AI Chatbot Thinks We Should Plan Our Funeral In Advance
At Funeralwise, we often think about what the future of funerals will look like. So it’s not surprising that lately, we’ve been pondering how artificial intelligence will impact the way we plan for our passing and honor those who go before we do.

How will the current popularity of chatbots impact how we buy funeral services? How will they be used to tell the stories of our loved ones? Will AI help us plan our funerals?
We recently posed a funeral-related question to ChatGPT-4, one of the most advanced chatbots available. We asked, “What are the reasons I should create a funeral plan before I die?” it gave us ten reasons to plan. We encourage you to take a look. If you have thoughts on the subject, please tell us what you think in the comments area for the article.

>>Read Artificially Intelligent Funeral Planning in our Forums


Do Robots Deserve Funerals?
Giving a robot a funeral seems ridiculous, but have you ever seen those famous Boston Dynamic Robots dance? As robots become more sophisticated and lifelike, interesting questions about what to do when they reach the end of their lifespan arise.

In our Digital Dying blog, Justin Noble recently examined the issue of giving hardworking robots a funeral. For his take on the topic, click on the link below.

>>Read “Do Robots Deserve Funerals” in our Digital Dying Blog


Are Robot Morticians Just Around the Corner?
As far as we know, there is no such thing as a robot mortician. The concept raises all sorts of concerns.

But is the idea all that far-fetched? Our blog, Digital Dying, explored the question back in 2018.

We don’t think the industry is ready for such a leap yet, but we suggest you read the article and see what you think.

>>Read More About Robot Morticians


Our website is chock full of resources to help make planning a funeral or memorializing a loved one easier. Below is a short list of some of the most popular. You may not need them now, but bookmarking them will ensure you have them when needed.


DON’T HAVE A FUNERAL PLAN YET?
Why not take a few minutes to get started today? TRY THE PLANNER

ALREADY HAVE A FUNERAL PLAN?
Take a few minutes to make sure it’s up-to-date. GO TO YOUR PLAN


Funeralwise.com is the place to go online for everything you need about funerals. Whether planning a funeral or attending one, we will provide straightforward answers to your questions and step-by-step instructions to guide you on your way.

How Much Will Your Funeral Cost? Try Our QuickPlan to Find Out.