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. In over twenty years walking Canadian families through funeral planning, I have seen countless people freeze at the kitchen table with a blank sheet in front of them. A strong AI draft takes the pressure of starting from zero off your shoulders. You then bring the real content. The memories, the turns of phrase, the small things only you could know. The figures below show that more and more Canadian families are choosing this path. Starting is the hardest part. Honouring the person with dignity comes next.
Claire Fairchild
1. 85% of consumers are comfortable using AI to help write a eulogy (WifiTalents)
A comprehensive industry study shows that 85% of consumers feel comfortable using AI to help write a eulogy for a loved one. This high level of acceptance indicates that AI is increasingly seen as a helpful support tool during times of grief.
2. 75% of funeral directors believe AI will become a key partner within 5 years (WifiTalents)
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. 55% of funeral professionals show interest in AI adoption (WifiTalents)
According to a survey by the National Funeral Directors Association, 55.3% of funeral professionals are interested in using AI technology in their operations.
4. 85% of funeral homes offer digital memorial pages (WifiTalents)
Digital memorial pages have become standard: 85% of all funeral homes offer them as a regular service.
5. AI reduces obituary writing time by 50% (WifiTalents)
Funeral homes using AI tools for writing obituaries report cutting the required time in half. The traditional process often takes six hours or more.
6. Chatbots handle 60% of routine inquiries at funeral homes (WifiTalents)
AI-powered chatbots already handle 60% of routine price inquiries and general questions at funeral homes.
7. 65% of families seek tech-driven memorial solutions (WifiTalents)
A 2024 industry report found that 65% of bereaved families want technology-driven memorial solutions.
8. 72% of families prefer digital options for parts of the funeral process (WifiTalents)
Nearly three-quarters of families surveyed in 2023 expressed a preference for digital options for at least part of the funeral process.
9. 58% of millennials expect smart technology at funeral homes (WifiTalents)
More than half of millennials expect funeral homes to offer intelligent technology options.
10. 33% of funeral homes use AI for celebrant scripts (WifiTalents)
One-third of funeral homes already use AI to create or support texts for celebrants and ceremony leaders.
11. 40% increase in AI-powered photo restorations (WifiTalents)
Demand for AI-based photo restoration at funeral homes has risen by 40%. Old black-and-white photos can be colorized and restored with 95% accuracy.
12. 90% of industry experts call for AI legislation by 2026 (WifiTalents)
Nearly all deathcare industry experts believe that AI use in the funeral sector requires new legislation.
13. 77% see AI as a business survival necessity (WifiTalents)
More than three-quarters of funeral business owners view AI adoption as a business necessity to remain competitive.
14. The global funeral market is growing to $80 billion in 2026 (Grand View Research)
The global funeral and cremation services market is growing from approximately $71 billion (2024) to an estimated $80 billion (2026).
15. 80% believe empathy must remain human (WifiTalents)
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.
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 center. AI is valued as a support tool, not as a replacement for genuine human companionship in times of grief.