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. I have sat with American families across more than two decades, and the hardest moment is rarely the ceremony itself. It is the blank page the night before. A strong AI draft removes the pressure of starting from zero. You then fill it with the details only you could give. The memories, the turns of phrase, the small private jokes. The numbers below show that more and more families are choosing this path. Starting is the hardest part. Honouring the person with dignity comes next.
Rebecca Holloway
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. This high level of acceptance indicates that AI is increasingly seen as a helpful support tool during times of grief.1
2. AARP: 31 percent of grieving Americans aged 50 plus used a grief app in 2024
An AARP survey published in 2024 found that 31 percent of grieving Americans aged 50 and over had used a grief support app such as Empathy, Cake or Lantern in the prior 12 months, up from 11 percent in 2022.2
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. From scheduling to document preparation, AI is seen as a significant efficiency gain.3
4. Brookings: 47 percent of US small services firms now use generative AI weekly
Brookings Institution research in 2024 found that 47 percent of US small services firms, including a majority of small funeral providers, now use generative AI at least weekly for marketing or document drafting.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. The industry is increasingly opening up to digital innovation.5
6. CDC records 3.09 million US deaths in 2023, baseline for AI demand
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 3.09 million deaths in the United States during 2023, with provisional 2024 data showing a similar figure, sustaining a market in which AI funeral tools serve roughly 18,500 funeral homes nationwide.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. These pages allow family and friends to share memories, photos, and condolences online.7
8. Empathy reports serving 1.6 million US families since launch
Empathy disclosed in early 2025 that its AI guided bereavement platform had now served more than 1.6 million US families since launch in 2021, with average user activity of 9 sessions per case across estate, funeral and grief modules.8
9. AI reduces obituary writing time by 50%
Funeral homes using AI tools for writing obituaries report cutting the required time in half. The traditional process often takes six hours or more: three hours meeting with the family to gather details and another three to craft the obituary.9
10. Forbes: 71 percent of bereaved US adults googled a funeral home before contact
Forbes Advisor reported in 2024 that 71 percent of bereaved US adults search Google for a funeral home before any direct contact, with AI generated reviews appearing in 18 percent of top three local pack results.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. This frees up staff for personal counseling and support of grieving families.11
12. FTC opens 14 cases involving funeral home AI pricing in 2024
The Federal Trade Commission opened 14 cases in 2024 against US funeral providers whose AI driven price quote tools were alleged to violate the Funeral Rule by omitting general price list components.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. This reflects a growing desire for innovative ways to preserve memories and honor loved ones.13
14. 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). Digital planning tools and AI integration are among the key growth drivers.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, whether for planning, memorialization, or communication with the funeral home.15
16. Stanford HAI 2025 index: US deathcare AI funding hit 187 million dollars
The Stanford HAI 2025 AI Index reported that US deathcare and grief technology firms raised 187 million dollars of equity funding in 2024, more than double the 78 million dollars raised across the sector 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. This generation, increasingly stepping into the role of organizers, is driving the digital transformation of the industry.17
18. Cake reports 4.2 million end of life plans created on its platform
Cake disclosed in 2025 that more than 4.2 million end of life plans have now been created on its platform, with AI assisted obituary and eulogy drafting features used in 28 percent of completed plans.18
19. 48% find AI planning portals less stressful
Nearly half of respondents find that AI-powered planning portals make the already difficult funeral process less stressful. Automating administrative tasks gives families more space to grieve.19
20. The funeral software market is growing to $14 billion
The funeral home software industry is estimated at around $14 billion (2025) and is projected to grow to $26.6 billion by 2035. Cloud-based AI solutions are driving growth particularly strongly.20
21. 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. AI serves as a starting point that the speaker then personalizes with specific memories and details.21
22. NFDA: 38 percent of US funeral homes used AI in 2024 operations
The National Funeral Directors Association reported in late 2024 that 38 percent of US funeral homes had deployed AI in some operational capacity, most commonly for obituary drafting, scheduling and call summarisation, up from 9 percent in 2022.22
23. 40% increase in AI-powered photo restorations
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 to be displayed at memorial services.23
24. CDC and NIH funded study: 14 percent of bereaved US adults open to AI therapy
A 2024 study funded by the National Institutes of Health found 14 percent of bereaved US adults were open to AI led grief therapy, rising to 27 percent among those under 35, with cost the leading driver of interest.24
25. 30% reduction in administrative time through AI scheduling
Funeral homes using AI-powered scheduling tools report a 30% reduction in administrative time. That translates to roughly 10 hours saved per week on bookkeeping alone.25
26. NPR: 8 reported cases of AI deepfake voices used at US memorials in 2024
NPR documented 8 widely reported US cases in 2024 in which AI voice cloning was used to have a deceased person address mourners at a memorial service, sparking ethical debate in 3 state legislatures.26
27. 80% of funeral home CRM systems include AI-powered lead tracking
The vast majority of customer relationship management systems in the funeral industry now integrate AI-based features for tracking inquiries and improving family communication.27
28. Pew Research: 23 percent of US adults have used ChatGPT for personal writing
Pew Research Center reported in 2024 that 23 percent of US adults have used ChatGPT or a similar generative AI assistant for personal writing tasks, with funeral and memorial speeches mentioned by 4 percent of users overall.28
29. 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. The handling of deceased individuals' data and the ethical boundaries of AI memorial services are key concerns.29
30. Reuters: US funeral home website automation reaches 62 percent by 2025
Reuters reported in 2025 that 62 percent of US funeral home websites now feature automated chat, AI obituary drafting or online booking, up from 19 percent in 2020, with rural homes lagging metropolitan ones by 24 percentage points.30
31. 65% of funeral directors worry about AI data security
Two-thirds of funeral professionals express concerns about the data security of AI-stored information. The sensitive handling of personal data of the deceased and their families requires particular care.31
32. 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 in the long term.32
33. 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. Technology should support, not substitute, human connection in moments of grief.33
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, the statistics show that 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.
Sources
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- AARP(aarp.org)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Brookings Institution(brookings.edu)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- CDC(cdc.gov)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Empathy(empathy.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Forbes(forbes.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- FTC(ftc.gov)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Grand View Research(grandviewresearch.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Stanford HAI(hai.stanford.edu)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Cake(joincake.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Market Research Future(marketresearchfuture.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- NFDA(nfda.org)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- National Institutes of Health(nih.gov)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- NPR(npr.org)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Pew Research Center(pewresearch.org)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Reuters(reuters.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are people comfortable using AI to write a eulogy?
Yes, 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 AI is increasingly seen as a helpful support tool during times of grief rather than something impersonal.
How much time does AI save when writing an obituary?
Funeral homes using AI tools report cutting obituary writing time in half. The traditional process often takes six hours or more: about three hours meeting with the family to gather details and another three to craft the obituary. AI reduces that workload by roughly 50%.
Do funeral homes offer digital memorial pages?
Yes, digital memorial pages have become standard, with 85% of all funeral homes offering them as a regular service. These pages let family and friends share memories, photos, and condolences online. A 2024 report also found that 65% of bereaved families want technology-driven memorial solutions.
Do funeral professionals expect AI to become important?
Yes, three-quarters of funeral directors believe AI will become a key partner within five years, particularly for administrative tasks like scheduling and document preparation. A National Funeral Directors Association survey also found 55.3% of funeral professionals are interested in using AI in their operations.