Explore how A.I. digital selves and “E-Tomb” can transform our connection to loved ones, blending tradition with innovation for a meaningful legacy. #DigitalLegacy #Innovation #AI #MemorialTech
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The beginning and end of life are both parts of nature.
There’s a saying, “No trace is left when a goose passes by,” highlighting the ephemeral nature of existence. However, in the age of the Internet, the phrase “The Internet has memory” emphasizes that once something appears online, it leaves a permanent mark.

This contrast reminds me of a concept product I encountered years ago, the E-Tomb, and the virtual personas that have gained traction recently. Imagine creating a virtual version of ourselves, where our tombstones become the new carriers of our digital identities, enabling future generations to interact with us. While we can’t alter the natural course of life and death, we can make our future existence more meaningful and connected through “dialogue with AI-Tomb.”
I. E-Tomb
E-Tomb is a concept design from 2010 featuring an emotionally resonant, Bluetooth-enabled solar tombstone. It merges the traditional symbol of a tombstone with modern digital details, capturing the digital traces of social media. Solar panels embedded in the tombstone power a hidden hard drive that stores information from key social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Visitors can interact with this data using their smartphones via Bluetooth connections.


In today’s world, it seems almost impossible to avoid being connected to social media and the internet. When someone passes away, their online accounts are often either deleted or turned into memorial pages. These accounts hold a wealth of personal memories, and the E-Tomb concept offers a meaningful way to preserve and interact with this information. Whether we like it or not, our digital presence is a significant part of our legacy, and E-Tomb provides a unique application to honor that.
II. Digital-Self
With advancements in AI and large language models (LLM), humans can now store knowledge and experiences in digital form, creating “digital selves” that communicate as virtual personas. This technology allows even deceased artists, scientists, and professionals to digitally store and train their work. For example, the “Digital Dali” exhibit at the Dali Museum (read more here: https://www.evtomato.com/quickthought/ai-dali/), which I previously mentioned, exemplifies this concept. In the foreseeable future, we may all have digital counterparts that not only leave digital “traces” on social media but also embody parts of our memory, tone, and unique personality. Imagine being able to “talk” to a deceased loved one, like a grandmother—it would be deeply moving and empowering.

MIT Media Lab’s “Future You” project is also exploring similar territory. This project focuses on shaping a future self, using AI to generate an older version of one’s digital persona for conversations, memory sharing, and lessons. Experiments show that such dialogues can foster stronger connections to the future, encourage positive thinking about one’s own future, and provide emotional value and motivation. This has been shown to positively impact savings behavior, academic performance, mental health, and overall quality of life.

III. Some Thoughts
E-Tomb is just one of many potential carriers for preserving a digital self. As long as a deceased person’s virtual self exists in the cloud, we can interact with it anytime and anywhere. In the future, physical tombstones may become obsolete, as the memory of a loved one lives on in the hearts of those who remember them. While technically feasible, cultural sensitivities might make this practice controversial. It’s important to offer this to those who find value in it. As long as it brings positive impact and comfort, it’s worth pursuing.
IV. Extended Readings
[2] https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/future-you/overview/
[3] https://techxplore.com/news/2024-06-future-chatbot-users-glimpse-life.html
[4] https://www.yankodesign.com/2010/11/10/tweet-and-like-me-even-when-i’m-dead/