Meta Platforms Granted Patent for AI System That Could Manage Accounts After User’s Death

 Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been granted a patent for an artificial intelligence system designed to potentially manage a user’s social media presence even after prolonged inactivity, including scenarios where a user is deceased.

According to the patent description, the proposed technology would rely on a person’s historical digital behavior, such as past posts, messages, interactions, and communication patterns, to automatically generate content, respond to messages, and simulate normal online activity. The concept also outlines the possibility of voice or video-style interactions derived from stored data and behavioral models.

However, industry analysts emphasize that a patent does not automatically translate into a live product or service. Technology companies frequently file patents to secure intellectual property rights and explore future possibilities, many of which never reach public deployment.

Meta has not officially announced plans to release or implement such a system. The patent instead reflects a theoretical framework that highlights the growing intersection between artificial intelligence, digital identity, and legacy management in the modern online ecosystem.

The development has sparked global conversations about ethics, privacy, and the future of personal data, particularly regarding how technology companies may handle digital footprints long after users become inactive.