Ghosts in the Machine: Training AI to Outlive Us | Zachary Catanzaro | TEDxSTU

Technological Advancements & Digital Immortality - Technology is advancing persistence, memory, and presence, allowing for the extension of being beyond the grave [3] - Daily interactions with systems create digital footprints that linger after death, leading to a new form of digital immortality [4][9] - The industry is moving from passive remembrance to active memory, where memory carries presence and persistence [10] Ethical & Governance Concerns - The danger lies in control, specifically "dead hand control" or governance without the impact of the living [14] - The industry needs to address the potential for big players in tech to amass political power, capital, property, and control from beyond the grave [13] - It's crucial to distinguish between remembrance and resurrection, and to ensure safeguards are placed on the technology [14][16] Applications & Future Implications - The technology has therapeutic and beneficial uses, such as healing and teaching [16] - The industry should focus on guiding rather than governing, imbuing memory rather than control [16] - Future generations will likely interact with replicas of the deceased, emphasizing the importance of leaving a good memory and safeguarding the future from excessive control from the past [17][18]