A study reveals that people may communicate with AI representations of the deceased, perceiving them as reincarnations, which is quite unsettling.

      The inaugural AI ghost study is out, and the findings are as complex as one might anticipate.

      A study conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder reveals something both impressive and concerning: individuals find it profoundly meaningful to interact with AI representations of deceased loved ones, and most express a desire to do so again.

      The researchers refer to this as a “generative ghost,” a term clearly linked to generative AI, though I still find it rather unsettling.

      So, what did the study actually uncover?

      Doctoral candidate Jack Manning and associate professor Jed Brubaker enlisted 16 participants aged between 22 and 50, each of whom had experienced the loss of someone close.

      In individual Zoom sessions, a second researcher used a large language model (LLM) to create a ghost of the deceased in real time, using details provided by the participant, essentially an AI recreation of the person.

      Participants engaged with two versions of the generative ghost: one that spoke in the first person (“I remember going to the beach together”) and another that spoke in the third person (“She loved going to the beach with you,” with "you" referring to the participant).

      Unanimously, participants favored the first-person “reincarnation” over the third-person “representative,” which I must admit is the aspect I find most disconcerting.

      As for the creators of these AI ghosts, and why it matters?

      Participants were forgiving of minor factual errors during interactions, but mistakes in terms of endearment were not acceptable. For example, when the ghost of one stepfather referred to his stepson as “champ” — a term he never used — the participant nearly ended the session.

      This is the first user experience research on AI ghosts, published by the Association for Computing Machinery (via CU Boulder). Furthermore, services like Project December and HereAfterAI are already marketing AI ghosts commercially.

      Participants raised a significant concern: while everyone indicated they would use an AI ghost again, nearly all were apprehensive that individuals mourning their loved ones might become addicted. Consequently, the lab has begun a follow-up study with mental health professionals to examine the psychological benefits and potential risks associated with interactions with generative ghosts.

      For over five years, Shikhar has been adeptly simplifying advancements in consumer technology and sharing them...

      Apple’s M6 chip hasn’t launched yet, but M7 Macs are expected by early 2027.

      Apple is reportedly fast-tracking plans for its next-generation silicon, even before the M6 debuts.

      The M6 chip is still anticipated to be revealed later this year; however, according to Mark Gurman's latest report for Bloomberg, Apple aims to unveil its first M7 devices in the first half of 2027, suggesting a quicker silicon refresh than previously thought. M7 may debut alongside new Macs and iPads.

      The entry-level MacBook Pro is set for a design update in 2027, which is overdue.

      After five years with the same chassis, both tiers of the MacBook Pro will receive a fresh look simultaneously.

      According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to launch a new MacBook Pro early next year, with a 14-inch model slated for the first half of 2027. The most surprising feature will be an entirely new design, described as "a revamped entry-level MacBook Pro, code-named K104."

      Apple's Hide My Email feature has an unresolved bug that exposes email addresses.

      This vulnerability is 100% exploitable based on limited testing, has been known since June 2025, and remains unaddressed today.

      Apple promotes Hide My Email to safeguard users' real email addresses, yet it contains a flaw that does the opposite. Alarmingly, the company has been aware of this issue for a year.

      Hide My Email, which is part of Apple’s paid iCloud+ subscription, allows users to create anonymous email addresses for website sign-ups, helping keep personal or work emails free from promotional messages and spam.