Otherside Life warns families to limit AI replicas of the dead

Otherside Life released guidance on grief technology as AI voice and chat replicas of deceased loved ones move into the mainstream. The company says the tools can support mourning, but should never replace human grief care or relationships with the living.

Why it matters: - AI “griefbots” and “deathbots” are moving from novelty to mainstream use, raising new questions about memory, dependency and how families mourn. - Otherside Life says the technology can help preserve memories, but can also pull people away from the work of grieving if used as a substitute for support. - A 2026 consumer survey found the share of Americans who want a digital memorial rose from 39% to 58% in one year, signaling faster acceptance of grief technology.

What happened: - Otherside Life released expert guidance on the rising use of artificial intelligence to simulate deceased loved ones. - The Los Angeles-based end-of-life coordination platform and grief-care movement issued the guidance on June 16, 2026. - Co-Founder Victoria Holmes urged families to treat AI replicas of the dead as companions to mourning, not replacements for it.

The details: - More than half a dozen platforms now sell grief technology directly to consumers. - Developers report millions of users for these products. - Recent academic research has warned that AI replicas can distort memory and encourage emotional dependence. - Bereavement professionals have described cases of prolonged attachment that can delay healthy mourning. - Holmes said, “Grief is not a problem to be solved. It is a process to be felt.” - Holmes leads as Chief Resonance Officer and death doula at Otherside Life. - Holmes created Otherside’s FeltSpace somatic method. - Holmes has spent 15 years working in mental health. - Otherside Life advises families to set clear limits when using grief technology. - Otherside Life says human support should remain at the center of mourning. - Otherside Life says AI replicas should be treated more like a photograph or saved voicemail than a relationship to sustain. - The company provides death doula support and grief care through its Heal with Death service. - Heal with Death pairs families with trained practitioners who provide presence, ritual and guidance from terminal diagnosis through bereavement.

Between the lines: - The company is not rejecting grief technology outright. - Otherside Life is drawing a line between memory aid and emotional replacement. - The guidance reflects a broader debate over whether AI can help people process loss or only prolong attachment. - Holmes framed the core risk as using the technology to avoid pain rather than move through it.

What's next: - Families considering grief technology are expected to face more options as the market expands. - Otherside Life is positioning its human-centered grief care as an alternative to AI companionship after death. - The larger industry debate is likely to intensify as more consumers adopt digital memorial tools and more providers enter the space.