How AI grief apps are turning death into data.

When Nitika's father passed away, she felt isolated, living far from family and friends. She turned to "grief apps" like Untangle, which offer online support groups and AI-powered features. These apps aim to make grief support more accessible, connecting people who are mourning.

However, their rise raises concerns.

Privacy risks: Grief apps collect sensitive personal data, potentially raising privacy concerns. How is this data used, stored, and protected?

The commodification of grief: Some argue that grief apps turn a deeply personal experience into a product for profit, potentially minimizing the complexities of human emotion.

The role of AI: While AI can offer personalized support, there are concerns about the potential for bias and the ethical implications of relying on algorithms for emotional support.

Despite these concerns, grief apps can offer valuable support for those navigating loss, particularly for people who may not have access to traditional support systems.

The future of grief support:

As grief apps become more prevalent, it's crucial to have open discussions about the ethical considerations and the potential impact on individuals and society. Finding a balance between providing support and protecting privacy will be critical for the future of these technologies.

This new frontier of grief support presents both opportunities and challenges. While grief apps can offer valuable resources and connections, it's essential to approach them with a critical eye and prioritize the well-being and privacy of those who seek support.

Grief apps are emerging as tools to support people navigating the complex emotions and practical challenges of losing a loved one. These apps often feature libraries of resources focused on grief and mental health, allowing users to connect with others in similar situations and share photos and stories of their loved ones. Some even incorporate AI-driven features such as personalized journaling prompts, to-do lists, and chatbot advice. A few apps also include tools like administrative checklists and consultations with experts to help users manage the often-overwhelming legal and financial tasks associated with death.

Karine Nissim, co-founder of the grief app DayNew, describes their approach as "optimized healing." According to her, the app functions as a combination of a therapist, a best friend, and a personal assistant, offering a comprehensive, streamlined approach to managing grief. It aims to help users navigate their journey while providing a sense of structure and guidance.

The Messiness of Mourning

Despite these innovations, grief is inherently messy and unpredictable—qualities that don’t always align with the structured workflows these apps promote. This raises questions about whether grief should be mediated by apps or the companies behind them.

One major concern is privacy. Traditional avenues for grief support, like therapy or support groups, typically do not involve the storage or potential monetization of personal data. In contrast, grief apps collect user data like most digital tools. This creates an ethical dilemma: while these apps may offer convenience and accessibility, they also require users to trade some degree of privacy.

Historically, people have turned to therapists or support groups for help with grief. For those who couldn’t afford therapy or access a group, options were limited. Grief apps aim to fill this gap, providing consistent and accessible support. Adrian Aguilera, a psychologist and UC Berkeley professor specializing in digital mental health, highlights the advantages of these tools. According to him, grief apps excel in accessibility and consistency, leveraging our existing comfort with digital platforms to create a natural extension of real-life interactions. Aguilera emphasizes that the social connections facilitated by digital technologies can be especially valuable for those without access to in-person support systems.

Privacy vs. Connection

However, the trade-off between privacy and accessibility remains a critical issue. Users must ask themselves: how much personal information are they willing to share with tech companies in exchange for support? Furthermore, if apps replace human-centric support systems, does the comfort they provide feel as genuine? These questions underline a broader debate about the role of technology in deeply human experiences like mourning.

The Role of Digital Interfaces in Grief

The way digital interfaces shape the grieving process is complex. For some, like Sofia Root from Pennsylvania, joining online communities provided a sense of connection after her mother passed away. Root, who was not typically active online, found solace in Reddit forums about loss. She described the occasional dopamine rush she felt when encountering relatable posts, which offered brief distractions from her own struggles.

Root later came across an Instagram ad for a grief app called Untangle. Intrigued, she decided to try it. While using the app, she noticed a comment on another user’s post that seemed to be written by artificial intelligence. This realization unsettled her. “The idea that they might be using AI to produce something that's supposed to be about connecting with real people, it seemed a little fraudulent to me,” she explained. For Root, the potential use of AI in this context reinforced feelings of isolation, rather than alleviating them.

Untangle does utilize AI features, such as tools for employees and personalized recommendations for meditations and breathing exercises. However, the company insists it does not use AI to respond to user posts. This distinction highlights the delicate balance grief apps must strike: using technology to enhance support without compromising authenticity.

The Promise and Pitfalls of Grief Apps

Grief apps represent a promising innovation in mental health support. They offer tools and resources that can make coping with loss more manageable, especially for those who lack access to traditional support systems. Features like personalized prompts, administrative checklists, and AI-driven recommendations can provide valuable assistance during a difficult time.

However, these apps also raise important ethical and emotional questions. The collection and use of personal data may deter some users, particularly those who value privacy. Additionally, the potential reliance on AI-generated interactions can feel impersonal or even alienating, undermining the sense of connection these apps aim to foster.

Ultimately, grief is a deeply personal experience, and no app can fully replicate the comfort of human empathy. While grief apps can serve as useful tools, they should be seen as supplements—not replacements—for genuine human connection and support. As technology continues to evolve, finding the right balance between innovation and authenticity will be key to ensuring these tools truly help those in need.