Recent social media post highlight a Meta patent that describes technology to keep user accounts active by mimicking their behavior, even after death. The concept has drawn attention for its potential to create digital stand-ins on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. While the idea sounds futuristic and unsettling to some, it remains at the patent stage with no implementation plans from the company.
The patent, granted on December 30, 2025, and originally filed on November 29, 2023, outlines a large language model trained on a user’s historical data. This includes past posts, comments, likes, reactions, and interactions on the social networking system. The model would simulate the user when they are absent, such as during a long break or if deceased. It could generate responses to posts, comments, likes, direct messages, and potentially simulate audio or video interactions to maintain engagement for followers.
The patent document states: “The language model may be used for simulating the user when the user is absent from the social networking system, for example, when the user takes a long break or if the user is deceased.” It notes that the absence of a deceased user has a more severe and permanent impact on the platform experience for others.
Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s chief technology officer, is listed among the inventors in some reports, though the official patent record names Prashant Iyengar and Hardik Godara as inventors for US Patent 12,513,102.
A Meta spokesperson told Business Insider the company has “no plans to move forward with this example.” The firm routinely files patents to protect ideas but does not necessarily develop or launch them.
This is not the first time such technology has appeared in patents. Microsoft received a similar patent in 2021 for chatbots that could simulate deceased individuals. Startups have also explored “grief tech” tools, including digital memorials or AI replicas of loved ones. Meta already offers a Legacy Contact feature on Facebook, which lets users designate someone to manage their account after death, such as by posting a final message, updating the profile, or archiving content. Accounts can also be memorialized or deleted.
No public evidence shows that Meta has tested or deployed this specific AI system. Patents represent concepts and legal protections, not active products. There are no reports of the technology being used on Meta platforms.
For residents of south central Ohio, the patent touches on broader questions about digital assets after death. Ohio adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act in 2017. This law allows executors, trustees, and agents under a power of attorney to access and manage digital assets, including social media accounts, email, and online accounts, when properly authorized in estate planning documents.
Platforms’ terms of service and features like legacy contacts often take precedence, but Ohio law supports fiduciaries in handling these assets when users provide clear instructions. Estate planning attorneys in the region recommend including digital asset inventories in wills or trusts, listing usernames, passwords (where permitted), and preferences for memorialization or deletion. Families should discuss these wishes while the account holder is alive to avoid disputes.
The patent has sparked ethical discussions. Experts have raised concerns about privacy, consent of the deceased, the emotional impact on grieving families, and whether such simulations could complicate the mourning process. Some view it as a way to preserve connections; others see risks of confusion or exploitation.
Meta users in Ohio and across the country can review their account settings now. On Facebook, users can designate a legacy contact or choose to have their account deleted after death. Similar options exist on Instagram. Consulting a local estate planning professional ensures digital wishes align with Ohio law and platform policies.
The patent does not mean AI-driven “zombie” accounts are coming to Facebook or Instagram soon. It reflects ongoing industry exploration of digital legacies in an era when billions of users maintain online presences. South central Ohio residents can stay informed by monitoring official Meta announcements and updating estate plans as technology evolves. For personalized advice, contact a qualified Ohio attorney familiar with digital assets.
