In this post, a 2nd year CDT student Alexandra Gillespie talks about her experience presenting a poster at the AIES conference in Malmö, Sweden in October 2026
Working at the intersection of death and technology means that you’re never quite sure how your work will be received. I’ve presented at a couple of non-archival local conferences on the topic of digital immortality, but AIES 2026 in Malmö, Sweden was my first conference publication on the subject. This was, of course, exciting, and a great way to start off my second year. It was also nerve-wracking and intimidating.
My poster was titled “Wanted Dead or Alive: Anticipatory Regulation of Digital Immortality Platforms” and focused on using analogous regulatory spaces to anticipate what regulation may look like for digital immortality. We focused on how psychology/grief counseling, the death care industry, social media, and AI companions are all helpful in approaching the regulation of artificial renderings of people who have died.
My favorite thing about interdisciplinary conferences like this is that, no matter how odd you find your topic, someone else will be doing something equally odd. I had conversations with folks about everything from AI companion discontinuation to the cultural issues prevalent in high-powered American universities near Silicon Valley. No matter the topic, people were willing to meet me where I was and relate to my interesting, albeit creepy, topic.
I was supported in person by my undergraduate advisor Dr. Stacy Doore of Colby College, and in spirit by my primary supervisor Dr. James Garforth, both of whom were co-authors on this project with me. I also appreciated the support from my other supervisors. Dr. Nayha Sethi and Dr. Lachlan D. Urquhart. I’m incredibly grateful for them, UKRI, and CDT management for making this experience possible.
Written by Alexandra Gillespie
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