Recently, Meta secured a patent for an innovative artificial intelligence technology. This technology harnesses the power of large language models to delve into a user's historical data—encompassing comments, likes, and shared content—long after they have passed away. Leveraging this data, the technology can craft a 'digital doppelgänger,' essentially a virtual replica, to assume control of the user's account. This digital entity would then continue to engage in social media activities, such as posting updates, liking and commenting on others' posts, and even mimicking video and audio interactions.

Meta asserts that this endeavor is designed to bridge the social gap left by a user's demise and foster continued engagement among the living user base. Nevertheless, the concept has sparked a wave of concerns among experts, who highlight potential legal, ethical, and societal dilemmas. These include the challenge of accurately defining the personality traits of the digital doppelgänger, ensuring that its utterances align with the deceased's true intentions, and evaluating whether such a presence might impede the natural grieving process.

A spokesperson from Meta clarified that, at present, there are no concrete plans to implement this particular patent, framing it instead as a precautionary measure to safeguard their intellectual property.