A woman who used AI to plan her dad’s funeral has revealed the bot suggested a Thailand theme and blasting his ashes in a firework.
Paige Daley said she turned to technology to take the pressure off her family after “practical joker” Andy died aged 59.
The 29-year-old said she found the process to be “empathetic and compassionate” during a difficult time.
READ MORE: ‘I was in agony when my expired hot water bottle EXPLODED over my arm’
And it even made her think about her own funeral when she wants some of her remains to be sent rocketing into space.
“The tool was like a sensitive friend, asking all the questions I wouldn’t have even known I needed to ask myself,” Paige, who is from Bristol, told Need To Know.
“It started off by asking about dad’s passions.
“He loved joking around and playing pranks, he loved fishing and cooking – he had hundreds of cookbooks – and my mum and him used to do chilli eating competitions.
“He also had a passion for Thailand and Thai food as he lived out there for a few years.”
Paige said the AI tool asked where her dad had grown up and if he had any places he was fond of.
She said: “The tool then came up with some really great suggestions for what we could do.
“For example, asking people to come together to have a chilli eating competition – it would be so funny, and would really align with my dad’s personality.
“It also suggested asking people to share any pranks he played on them – he was such a practical joker.”
Paige decided on two events to celebrate her dad’s life.
In the summer, a gathering of Andy’s family and friends will be held in his home town of Hartlepool.
They will scatter some of his ashes off of Seaham harbour, eat Thai food and hold a chilli eating competition.
Andy’s ashes will also be placed into a firework.
Paige said: “He would love the thought of everyone coming in a Kimono, or even chopsticks in their hair – we definitely would not wear black.
“In terms of his ashes, we had some wonderful suggestions from the tool – for example, it asked where he grew up, which was Seaham in Hartlepool.
“The suggestion was to scatter some of his ashes off the Harbour there, which is where he used to go fishing.
“We are also going to put some of his ashes in a firework so he can be blasted up above us – he would love that.”
Using the answers given to her by AI tool A Fine Farewell, Paige has also planned a smaller celebration of life for Andy, set to take place on 15 March.
On what would have been his 60th birthday, there will be a memorial tree planting and his ashes will be scattered in Bristol.
Paige said: “I’m a budding gardener and have just sown chilli pepper seeds for the occasion.
“I’ve gone for chocolate habaneros and sizzlers – it’s set to be a fiery challenge.
“My family are looking forward to us all getting together to celebrate my dad the best way we know how, with lots of food and laughter.”
Paige used Pure Cremation for her dad’s funeral as well as the company’s AI tool, A Fine Farewell.
Paige hadn’t spoken to her dad for a few years before his death as he had sadly become isolated from his family due to reliance on alcohol and health issues.
He lived alone in London and Paige only found out he’d died six weeks later.
Because of this, there was a sense of urgency surrounding his funeral, as the hospital alerted the family that they would be unable to hold his body any longer.
Paige said: “They were going to hold a cremation at the hospital, it would have been a very serious and solemn affair, but I knew that was not what my dad would have wanted.
“It would have been so hard to organise dad’s funeral without the AI tool – I genuinely wouldn’t have known where to start.”
Paige said her family has been really supportive of her using the tool.
She said: “You think of AI as being impersonal and not humanised at all but I have found the complete opposite is true.
“It has been empathetic, compassionate and soft – even asking if it is okay to refer to dad by his name.
“I also liked how it has made me think about my own wishes.
“I have used the tool to plan my own and am going to use its suggestions, including to have part of me – my clothes, my hair and maybe even my ashes – go into space.”
Ian Atkinson, Chief Marketing Officer of A Fine Farewell, hopes to help many people like Paige.
He said: “We hope A Fine Farewell will help lots of people plan a send-off that feels more personal and appropriate.
“We hope it will help them to hold it wherever and whenever they wish, and do whatever they like.”
Paige is also doing the Brighton Half marathon in memory of her dad next month and is raising funds on Just Giving.
READ MORE: Britain’s ‘first men’s health pub’ opens its doors in London
