Ph.D. Fellow, Cand. Psych.

Laura Skov Illum is a Ph.D. Fellow at the Unit for Bereavement Research, Aarhus University. She studies how bereaved individuals experience interacting with griefbots—AI-driven chatbots that simulate conversations with the deceased—with a focus on theoretical and ethical aspects. Her work combines qualitative interviews, systematic reviews, and document analyses to examine how such interactions influence the grieving process, including whether communication may support adaptive grief trajectories but potentially exacerbate challenges among those with complicated grief reactions. Laura’s aim is to develop guidelines that can inform the responsible use of griefbots and ensure that the technology supports adaptive grief without unintended negative consequences.

Contact:
lauill@psy.au.dk
+45 87151931