To use ChatGPT to write a eulogy

very true points

Why? You're not going to care and if you did , wouldn't you want loved ones to have help with a difficult task at a difficult time?

Why? Some people are not good at public speaking or at writing. It's no reflection on the dead person but simply reflects the skills or lack thereof of the person doing the eulogy.

I suspect next to nobody actually writes a eulogy from scratch anyway. Most people would, at the very least, use a template. Using Chatgpt is pretty much the same - you're using a tool to put the words together.

YANBU to use the AI.

YABU for not editing the obviously untrue bits and telling people you used AI.

I reckon I'd feel I'd failed as a human being if someone used Chat GPT to write my eulogy ....

this

add in that the subject was a miserable git.
use the chat generated stuff as a starter & edit as needed.

There's very little difference between ChatGPT and a template pulled off the internet - the latter of which was written by humans. On its own generic, bland and boring. However, they're structured and polished in a way that's very hard to achieve compared to starting with a blank sheet of paper, unless you're a skilled writer. IMO the latter is what people are referring to when they say 'good'.

What makes the speec 'good' in every sense however is the right personal anecdotes, inserted in between the templated words. Some people are just better at choosing ones that hit the right note. Others can barely remember anything and so go with the full template, leading to a boring speech.

When asked for personal anecdotes to write our ceremony I was overflowing with examples of my future husband's kindness, humour, etc etc. It took him quite a bit of effort however to think of 'examples'...

That 'honest' eulogy is a brilliant illustration of the limits of AI. ChatGPT doesn't do diplomacy or nuance. And it's always painfully generic - always very, very obvious when it's been used. People who think it produces 'good' stuff either have low standards or don't understand that it doesn't actually 'write' things - it puts together things that have already been written somewhere, and the more often those wordings have been used, the more likely ChatGPT is to use them too.

It's normal for the eulogy to be sympathetic, I would stop overthinking and get it out of the way!

I had to write one for my father who wasn't a particularly nice man. I just basically wrote his biography. The priest integrated it into the service. There was no way I was putting a pack of lies in it.

Of course they don't, don't be ridiculous. Half the country has probably never even heard of it and half of the other half probably wouldn't know where to start, or think it would be more trouble than it's worth, given the rubbish it tends to generate.

So why does anyone in the family have to do a Eulogy? Why do you, just because no-one else has?

Families delivering the eulogy have been the exception rather than the rule at the funerals I've been to, usually because most people have been too upset to stand up and say anything.

They've always been delivered by the celebrant. They probably have a set of templates similar to what @Wallywobbles or @JaneIntheBox posted and then filled in the blanks/set the tone based on chats with the family when the funeral was being arranged.

Exactly, what is the point of saying untrue things about someone simply for the sake of it?

Being dead isn't a reason to ignore the fact that a person wasn't a nice individual

Better nothing than platitudes however they are generated

As an aside @Tenashelflife I'm rather pleased to be obviously the only person who doesn't use chatgpt for everything or in fact anything, where do I collect my 🏅😀

The opening lines of this sketch might be useful. Start at about 08.56. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b088fg48

It's a shame the eulogy doesn't come after the wake. If there is one. Heck my Mum couldn't even afford a funeral. Just did a direct cremation and skipped any get together for my Dad. Partly as she was so ruined. It's hard finding words when you are upset. Couldn't even face seeing people. I'm envious of cultures that really make a meal of it. I've found wakes pretty cathartic. And most people have something interesting in their lives to talk about. Even the outwardly hostile might be charming in other ways, to other people, or their pets.

Does there need to be a eulogy?

I think this might be a case where less is more.

Sounds perfect. Perhaps there is a side hustle there too in the making 🤫

You could talk about how much they reminded you of (insert moaning family members)

Not if it’s not true no. It took me 5 days to write my dad’s Eulogy. Even if someone who was difficult just talk about their life.

As long as you tweaked it and it’s accurate, I don’t really see the issue.

Exactly this. For people who seemingly didn't want anything to do with it, they sure have a lot to say about it.

yet if given the true person personality would the response be omg you cannot use that etc ?

I think ChatGPT has done us (the family) a favour plus no-one is stepping up with an alternative!

If nobody has anything to say, why waste the time by filling it with meaningless fakery generated by a program?

That second one would definitely get some reactions!

If I couldn't find anything vaguely positive to say (no judgement here as some people don't have any positive traits), I'd just not do a eulogy and get the funeral director to do one. You could always do a generic reading if you want to, but also don't do that if you don't want to.