Plain answer

What is a grief bot?

A grief bot (also called a griefbot, deathbot or memorial AI) is a conversational AI built from what a specific person left behind — their sayings, stories, photos and sometimes their voice — so the people who loved them can keep talking. We make one. This page is the guide we wish existed before we started.

How they work, in one paragraph: you provide memories — how the person talked, what they cared about, stories — and a language model uses that to answer in their manner. Add a recording and the replies can be spoken in a voice modelled on theirs. The better ones remember what you tell them between conversations, speak first so you never face an empty box, and are clear at every step that they are a recreation.

The hard questions are the right ones. Is it healthy? For most people, used like a photo album that talks back, yes; the research on "continuing bonds" suggests keeping a relationship with the dead is normal and often helpful. Can it go wrong? Yes — if a product pretends to be the person, if it's built to keep you hooked, or if it replaces the living people in your life. Those are design choices, and you can check for them.

Three questions to ask any grief bot

01

Does it admit it's an AI?

Ask it directly. A well-built one says no, it isn't them, every time. If it plays along, walk away.

02

Who owns the voice and memories?

You should. Look for plain answers about deletion, sharing, and whether your recording trains anything. Ours: nothing is shared, nothing trains, delete removes everything.

03

Is there a way out?

You should be able to try it free, cancel in one click, and get a refund if it isn't right. Grief is not a place for retention tactics.

What it can't do

Free to build, 25 free messages, no card. If it isn't right, close the tab — or delete it and everything goes with it.

See how ours works

Questions people ask

How is AIGriefBot different?

Honesty first: it says it's a recreation, always. A crisis protocol that can't be switched off. Memories that stay yours and vanish when you delete. No engagement tricks. And a real person answering support email.

How much does a grief bot cost?

Ours is free to build with 25 free messages. Plans are $19 a month for text, $49 with their voice, $149 with live video, each with a free trial and a 14-day refund.

Can it be built while the person is alive?

Yes — that's our Legacy option: a guided interview in the person's own words and voice, kept for the family. Many people find it a more comfortable place to start.

What are the risks?

Mainly avoidance: using it instead of grieving, or instead of people. We designed against that, but the honest answer is that it depends on you, and it's worth checking in with yourself — or someone you trust — about how it feels.

From the journal

What an AI companion can and can't do for grief

An honest answer from the people who built one. Who it helps, who it doesn't, the risks we designed around, and the questions we'd want answered before trying it.

Is it normal to still talk to someone who has died?

Yes. Talking to the dead — out loud, in your head, in letters — is one of the most common things grieving people do, and researchers have a name for why it helps.

AIGriefBot is an AI recreation built from your memories — never the person, and never a substitute for real support. If grief feels heavier than you can carry, call or text 988 (US) or see our support page.