Deadbots: una mirada transdisciplinar desde el campo de la salud, la bioética y el diseño tecnológico

• Ignacio Brescó de Luna ^[1] ; Belén Jiménez Alonso ^[2]
  1. [1] Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

     Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

     Madrid, España

     
  2. [2] Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

     Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

     Barcelona, España

     
• Localización: Acción psicológica, ISSN 1578-908X, Vol. 22, Nº. 2, 2025, págs. 145-158
• Idioma: español
• DOI: 10.5944/ap.45243
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Deadbots: A transdisciplinary perspective from the fields of health, bioethics, and technological design
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    Los deadbots—chatbots diseñados mediante inteligencia artificial para simular el habla de personas fallecidas a partir de su huella digital—representan una tanatecnología emergente que plantea importantes implicaciones éticas, clínicas y sociales en el campo del duelo. Este estudio tiene como objetivo ofrecer una aproximación transdisciplinar al fenómeno mediante el análisis cualitativo de entrevistas a doce expertos/as de los ámbitos de la salud, la bioética y el diseño tecnológico. A través de un enfoque inductivo basado en el Análisis Temático Reflexivo, se identificaron un conjunto de temas y controversias en torno al uso de deadbots. Los resultados muestran una actitud de apertura cautelosa hacia esta tecnología, siempre que se utilice con fines terapéuticos, bajo supervisión profesional y con respeto a la autonomía del doliente y a la memoria del fallecido. Entre los riesgos identificados destacan la posibilidad de bloqueo del proceso de duelo, la ilusión de realidad, la dependencia emocional y la mercantilización de la memoria del difunto. Asimismo, se advierte que estos dispositivos podrían fomentar la individualización del duelo. El análisis se complementa con hallazgos previos en entrevistas a dolientes, quienes manifestaron reticencias similares, especialmente en relación con la autenticidad del vínculo generado con el bot. Se concluye subrayando la necesidad de una mirada no esencialista que integre no solo las funcionalidades técnicas de los deadbots, sino también los imaginarios sociales y marcos culturales que configuran el desarrollo y uso de estas tecnologías.

  • English

    Deadbots—chatbots powered by artificial intelligence that simulate the speech of deceased individuals based on their digital footprint—constitute an emerging thanatech-nology that raises significant ethical, clinical, and social implications in the field of bereavement. This study aims to provide a transdisciplinary approach to the phenomenon through a qualitative analysis of interviews with twelve ex-perts from the fields of health, bioethics, and technological design. Using an inductive approach based on Reflexive Thematic Analysis, a set of themes and controversies su-rrounding the use of deadbots was identified. The results reveal a cautiously open attitude toward this technology, provided it is used for therapeutic purposes, under profes-sional supervision, and with respect for both the mourner’s autonomy and the memory of the deceased. Among the risks highlighted are the potential disruption of the grie-ving process, illusions of reality, emotional dependency, and the commodification of the deceased’s memory. Mo-reover, deadbots may contribute to the individualization of grief. The analysis is complemented by previous findings from interviews with bereaved individuals, who expressed similar concerns, particularly regarding the authenticity of the bond established with the bot. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for a non-essentialist perspec-tive that considers not only the technical functionalities of deadbots, but also the social imaginaries and cultural fra-meworks that shape their development and use.

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