

The Telegraph: Grandmother talks to mourners at her own funeral
August 14, 2022
In a poignant demonstration of technology's role in preserving personal legacies, Marina Smith MBE, a renowned Holocaust educator and co-founder of the National Holocaust Centre in the UK, addressed mourners at her own funeral through an AI-powered video experience developed by StoryFile.
Prior to her passing, Smith participated in an extensive interview process with StoryFile, during which she responded to a wide array of questions about her life, beliefs, and experiences. These responses were then processed using StoryFile's Conversa AI platform, enabling her to "answer" questions posed by funeral attendees in real-time, creating an interactive and deeply personal memorial experience.
This innovative use of AI technology allowed family and friends to engage in a final conversation with Smith, preserving her voice and insights for future generations. The event underscores the potential of conversational AI in transforming how we commemorate and remember loved ones, offering a new dimension to memorial services.
Original Article: The Telegraph
Additional global coverage:
BBC News – Funeral tech: Marina Smith speaks at her own funeral with AI
New York Post – Dead woman talks to mourners at her own funeral in holographic video
PetaPixel – AI Tech Let Deceased Woman Talk to Mourners at Her Funeral
Daily Mail – Dead woman talks to mourners at her own FUNERAL thanks to AI
The Farewell Guide (UK) – AI tech allows Marina Smith to talk to mourners
Mopays (Facebook) – Holocaust campaigner Marina Smith speaks at her own funeral
Times of Israel (French edition) – Quand l’IA permet d’échanger avec les morts, notamment les survivants de la Shoah
7sur7 (Belgium) – Lors de ses propres funérailles, une activiste britannique a pu parler à ses proches