Would you let AI predict when you will die?

Artificial intelligence could help predict how long people may live by analysing personal health information, but the technology raises concerns about privacy and the psychological impact of knowing one’s estimated lifespan.

In an article published on Saturday, The Atlantic explored how AI chatbots could use medical records, biological indicators and other personal data to generate individualised longevity estimates.

Author Joel Achenbach described consulting Anthropic’s Claude chatbot to interpret medical information and reflect on ageing, health and mortality.

Although AI-powered predictions could offer more personalised assessments than conventional life-expectancy calculators, Achenbach questioned whether such detailed forecasts would be desirable.

He warned that sharing extensive personal health information with chatbots could create privacy risks, particularly if employers or insurance companies gained access to the data.

Achenbach also highlighted the importance of the “right not to know”, arguing that people should be able to face the future without knowing their predicted death date.

He ultimately favoured uncertainty over a potentially unsettling prediction generated by AI.