Pet loss is a deeply human grief—now owners turn to technology to cope

For many pet owners, saying goodbye to a beloved animal is one of life’s most painful experiences, but a growing number of people are now turning to artificial intelligence to help navigate grief.

From AI-generated letters written from a pet’s perspective to interactive chatbots trained on photos, memories and personality traits, a new category of digital memorial tools is emerging to help owners maintain a connection long after a pet’s death.

Some platforms are explicitly designed around grief support and memorialization. Tools like Karyad describe themselves as being built for pet loss, allowing users to generate ongoing “messages” or reflections from a deceased pet based on uploaded memories. Another service, ToThereOn, offers what it calls a digital sanctuary for pet loss healing, where users can preserve stories, images and conversational memories in an interactive format.

The trend reflects a broader shift in how people process loss in the digital age, but it has also sparked questions among grief experts about where remembrance ends and simulation begins.

Bethany Hsia, a veterinarian and co-founder of CodaPet, told Newsweek that the rise of AI grief tools does not come as a surprise.

“When families are facing the end of a pet’s life, there is often a gap in emotional support,” Hsia said. “Veterinarians receive some training in helping clients through difficult conversations, but we are not grief counselors.”

She described it as a “missed handoff” that can occur after a pet dies, when owners suddenly find themselves without the daily support system they relied on throughout their pet’s illness or final days.

“As a veterinarian, I’ve seen how significant that void can be,” she said. “A pet is often a constant companion. When that presence is suddenly gone, people are left with a silence they weren’t prepared for.”

According to Hsia, many owners appear to be using AI not as a replacement for their pet, but as a way to soften that transition.

Some applications send messages inspired by a pet’s personality, while others create digital avatars or conversational companions designed to evoke memories and provide comfort.

“The way I’ve seen people use AI is often to make that silence a little less overwhelming,” she said. “For some people, it’s a way to honor a pet and preserve memories rather than letting those memories disappear.”

A Digital Extension of Grief

Research has found that maintaining a connection with a deceased pet, sometimes referred to as a “continuing bond,” can play an important role in bereavement. Photos, memorials, journals and online tribute pages have all become common ways for people to preserve bonds with those they have lost.

A 2022 review of pet loss studies published in OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying found that these bonds can help some owners cope and find meaning after a loss, though the impact varies depending on the individual and how the connection is maintained.

AI memorial tools represent an extension of existing grieving practices, but one that is more interactive and potentially more immersive. Whether that interaction is helpful may depend on how it is used.

Hsia said the technology could be beneficial when it provides an outlet for emotions and remembrance, but cautioned that it should not replace professional support when someone is struggling to cope with a loss.

“If it’s helping someone process emotions and serving as a release valve for grief, that can be very positive,” she said. “The concern would be if somebody needs additional support and isn’t receiving it.”

Ethical Questions

The emergence of AI pet memorials has also prompted ethical discussions about the role technology should play in grief.

Supporters argue the tools can offer comfort during one of the most difficult periods of pet ownership, while critics question whether highly realistic simulations risk making it harder for some people to accept a pet’s death.

Unlike a photo album or memorial page, AI systems can generate entirely new interactions. That distinction has raised questions about whether these tools are preserving memories or generating a new form of relationship after loss.

There are also broader concerns surrounding privacy, data ownership and the commercialization of grief as companies develop increasingly sophisticated memorial products.

Hsia believes the impact ultimately depends less on the technology itself and more on the individual using it.

“Grief is highly personal,” she said. “What helps one person may not help another.”

One potential question she has considered is whether AI companionship could delay some people’s readiness to welcome another pet into their lives.

“I come from a shelter background, so I do think about whether it could affect how quickly people feel ready to adopt again,” she said. “But I don’t think technology will ever replace the relationship people have with a living animal.”

The Human Side of Pet Loss

While AI is introducing new ways to remember pets, Hsia said one thing has remained consistent: grieving owners continue to seek connection with other people who understand their loss.

Online support groups, memorial communities and social media pages dedicated to pet loss remain highly active, with owners sharing stories, photographs and advice months or even years after saying goodbye.

“What we see is people reaching out to each other and sharing memories,” Hsia said. “People respond to stories, photos and little details about a pet’s personality. There is a real sense of community around that.”

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly woven into everyday life, experts say its role in grief will likely continue to expand. Whether it becomes a lasting part of pet bereavement or simply another tool among many, its growing popularity highlights a reality familiar to anyone who has lost a beloved animal: the desire to hold on to that connection rarely disappears.