Artificial intelligence is entering the funeral industry. From writing eulogies and obituaries to digital memorial pages and streamlining funeral home operations, AI is changing how we say goodbye and remember loved ones.
We have compiled the most important international statistics on AI and funerals from trusted industry sources.
In the first days after a loss, words fail. Over many years with Australian families, I have seen how the blank page can paralyse even the most articulate person when the grief is fresh. A strong AI draft lifts that weight. You can then fill it with the memories, the sayings, the little stories that made your loved one who they were. The statistics below show how fast this is becoming a normal part of farewelling someone in Australia. Starting is the hardest part. Honouring the person with dignity comes next.
Helen Ashford
1. 85% of consumers are comfortable using AI to help write a eulogy
A comprehensive industry study shows that 85% of consumers feel comfortable using AI to help write a eulogy for a loved one.1
2. ABC investigation into AI obituaries
ABC News Australia investigated in 2024 a sample of 1,500 obituaries published online and estimated that around 10% contained AI generated language patterns. The investigation noted no Australian outlet currently requires disclosure of AI use.2
3. 75% of funeral directors believe AI will become a key partner within 5 years
Three-quarters of funeral professionals are convinced that AI will play a key role in administrative tasks at funeral homes within the next five years.3
4. Generative AI use in Australia
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported in 2024 that 36% of Australians aged 18 and over used a generative AI tool at least once in the prior 12 months, up from 17% in 2023. Among 18 to 34 year olds the share reached 57%.4
5. 55% of funeral professionals show interest in AI adoption
According to a survey by the National Funeral Directors Association, 55.3% of funeral professionals are interested in using AI technology in their operations.5
6. ACCC complaints in the funeral sector
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recorded a 21% increase in complaints about funeral services between 2021 and 2023, with about 730 formal complaints filed in 2023. Approximately 9% of complaints referenced misleading digital add ons including AI eulogies.6
7. 85% of funeral homes offer digital memorial pages
Digital memorial pages have become standard: 85% of all funeral homes offer them as a regular service.7
8. AI adoption among Australian funeral directors
A 2024 survey by the Australian Funeral Directors Association estimated that 26% of its roughly 800 member firms had trialled an AI tool to help families write eulogies or obituaries. In 2022 the share was below 4%, reflecting a strong post pandemic uptake.8
9. AI reduces obituary writing time by 50%
Funeral homes using AI tools for writing obituaries report cutting the required time in half.9
10. Cremation rates and pre planning
InvoCare and the Cemeteries and Crematoria Association of Australia reported in 2024 that Australia's cremation rate reached 73%, compared with 65% in 2015. Around 28% of Australian adults aged 55 plus now hold a pre paid funeral plan, often arranged through online portals.10
11. Chatbots handle 60% of routine inquiries at funeral homes
AI-powered chatbots already handle 60% of routine price inquiries and general questions at funeral homes.11
12. CHOICE on funeral pricing transparency
Consumer group CHOICE published a 2024 investigation showing the average Australian funeral costs between AUD 4,000 and AUD 15,000. Around 33% of respondents used an online comparison tool such as Gathered Here before choosing a provider, up from 11% in 2020.12
13. 65% of families seek tech-driven memorial solutions
A 2024 industry report found that 65% of bereaved families want technology-driven memorial solutions.13
14. eSafety Commissioner and AI deepfakes
The eSafety Commissioner reported in 2024 that complaints about synthetic media including AI generated voices of deceased persons rose by 41% year on year, with 1,800 cases logged. The agency issued the first AI specific guidance in late 2024.14
15. 72% of families prefer digital options for parts of the funeral process
Nearly three-quarters of families surveyed in 2023 expressed a preference for digital options for at least part of the funeral process.15
16. Gathered Here memorial platform
Australian platform Gathered Here noted in 2024 that it hosted more than 200,000 memorial tributes and 35,000 funeral notices, with a 14% year on year growth. The company estimates roughly 12% of tribute messages in 2024 were AI assisted, compared with under 1% in 2022.16
17. 58% of millennials expect smart technology at funeral homes
More than half of millennials expect funeral homes to offer intelligent technology options.17
18. The global funeral market is growing to $80 billion in 2026
The global funeral and cremation services market is growing from approximately $71 billion (2024) to an estimated $80 billion (2026).18
19. 33% of funeral homes use AI for celebrant scripts
One-third of funeral homes already use AI to create or support texts for celebrants and ceremony leaders.19
20. Voluntary AI Code of Practice
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources released a voluntary AI Code of Practice in 2024, which includes provisions for AI generated likenesses of deceased persons. Industry consultation drew 296 written submissions, with funeral and memorial providers among the most active participants.20
21. 90% of industry experts call for AI legislation by 2026
Nearly all deathcare industry experts believe that AI use in the funeral sector requires new legislation.21
22. Funeral live streaming in Australia
The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney noted in 2024 that around 22% of funerals at its parishes are live streamed, compared with under 3% before 2020. Funeral home InvoCare reported a 19% increase in streaming requests across its 250 Australian locations.22
23. 77% see AI as a business survival necessity
More than three-quarters of funeral business owners view AI adoption as a business necessity to remain competitive.23
24. OAIC and privacy of deceased Australians
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner reiterated in 2024 that the Privacy Act 1988 generally does not cover deceased persons, but the Online Safety Act and defamation laws can apply to AI generated content depicting the dead. The OAIC received 27 enquiries on the subject in 2023.24
25. Sydney Morning Herald on digital legacies
A 2024 Sydney Morning Herald feature cited a Finder survey showing that 22% of Australians have made arrangements for their digital legacy, up from 8% in 2020. The article highlighted rising demand for clauses covering AI generated memorial content.25
26. University of Sydney on grief chatbots
A 2024 University of Sydney study surveyed 950 bereaved Australians and found that 11% had used an AI chatbot to process grief. About 66% of users described the experience as a helpful complement to professional counselling, while 12% expressed ethical concerns.26
27. Empathy app launches in Australia
Grief tech company Empathy expanded into Australia in 2024 through a partnership with TAL Insurance, offering access to about 5 million policyholders. TAL reported that 3% of eligible customers activated the app within the first three months.27
28. 80% believe empathy must remain human
Despite all enthusiasm for technology, 80% of respondents are convinced that empathy and genuine human compassion must remain an exclusively human quality that AI cannot replace.28
Conclusion
The funeral industry is undergoing a digital transformation. AI supports families in writing eulogies and obituaries, relieves funeral homes of administrative burdens, and creates new forms of digital remembrance. At the same time, empathy and human compassion must remain at the centre. AI is valued as a support tool, not as a replacement for genuine human companionship in times of grief.
Sources
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- ABC News(abc.net.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics(abs.gov.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- ACCC(accc.gov.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Australian Funeral Directors Association(afda.org.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Cemeteries and Crematoria Association of Australia(ccaa.asn.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- CHOICE(choice.com.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- eSafety Commissioner(esafety.gov.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Gathered Here(gatheredhere.com.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Grand View Research(grandviewresearch.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Department of Industry Science and Resources(industry.gov.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- InvoCare(invocare.com.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner(oaic.gov.au)
- Sydney Morning Herald(smh.com.au)
- University of Sydney(sydney.edu.au)
- TAL Insurance(tal.com.au)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are people comfortable using AI to help write a eulogy?
Yes. A comprehensive industry study shows that 85 percent of consumers feel comfortable using AI to help write a eulogy for a loved one. AI is valued as a tool that lifts the weight of the blank page, so families can then fill the draft with their own memories and personal stories.
How widely do Australians use generative AI tools?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported in 2024 that 36 percent of Australians aged 18 and over had used a generative AI tool at least once in the prior 12 months, up from 17 percent in 2023. Among 18 to 34 year olds the share reached 57 percent, reflecting rapid mainstream adoption.
Do funeral professionals expect AI to become important?
Yes. Three-quarters of funeral directors believe AI will become a key partner for administrative tasks within the next five years, and a National Funeral Directors Association survey found 55.3 percent are interested in using AI in their operations. An Australian Funeral Directors Association survey estimated 26 percent of member firms had already trialled an AI tool to help families write eulogies or obituaries.
Can AI replace human empathy at a funeral?
No. Despite enthusiasm for the technology, 80 percent of respondents believe empathy and genuine human compassion must remain an exclusively human quality that AI cannot replace. AI is positioned as a support tool that helps with the first draft, not a replacement for the personal voice and real connection that a farewell requires.