Meta Platforms patents AI system that could post and message after a user’s death

Meta has been granted a patent describing an artificial intelligence system capable of simulating a person’s social media activity, including continuing to post and respond to messages after their death.

The patent, filed in 2023 and approved in late December, outlines how a large language model could analyze a user’s historical data, posts, comments, chats, voice notes, likes and other interactions — to recreate their online behavior. The system could then publish updates, reply to messages, and engage with content in a way that mirrors the original account holder.

According to the filing, the model “may be used for simulating the user when the user is absent from the social networking system,” including situations where the individual is inactive for an extended period or deceased. It notes that the consequences are “much more severe and permanent” if the user has died and cannot return.

The technology appears designed for Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, potentially allowing the company to reconstruct a digital persona using “user-specific” data. The patent also references more advanced possibilities, including simulating voice or even video calls using the recreated identity.

Despite the implications, Meta says the patent does not signal an imminent product launch. A company spokesperson stated there are “no plans to move forward with this example,” noting that patents are often filed to protect ideas that may never be developed.

Still, the concept aligns with prior comments from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who in a 2023 interview suggested AI systems could one day help people interact with digital representations of loved ones. He emphasized that such technology should depend on user consent, saying it “should ultimately be your call.”

The idea of AI replicas of deceased individuals has already sparked ethical debate, with startups offering digital avatar services that allow users to interact with simulations of lost relatives. Critics have compared the concept to dystopian scenarios depicted in shows like Black Mirror.

While Meta maintains the patent is purely conceptual, the filing underscores the rapid evolution of AI-driven digital identity tools, and the complex moral questions that could follow if they become reality.