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. After many years helping British families through funerals, I have watched people freeze in front of a blank page when they want nothing more than to do right by the person they have lost. A strong AI draft takes that pressure off. You then shape it with your own memories, the phrases only you would use, the small stories nobody else knows. The statistics below show how quickly more families are taking this route. Starting is the hardest part. Honouring the person with dignity comes next.
Margaret Pritchard
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. BBC: nearly 9 in 10 UK funerals offered livestream option in 2024
BBC News reported in 2024 that around 88 percent of UK funerals are now offered with a livestream option, up from 22 percent before the pandemic, with average viewership of 95 unique households per service.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. Co op Funeralcare: 56 percent of pre need conversations begin online in 2024
Co op Funeralcare disclosed in 2024 that 56 percent of pre need funeral plan conversations now begin through an online chat or web form, with AI handling the first 3 to 4 exchanges before a human adviser takes over.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. Cruse Bereavement: 9,200 helpline calls in 2024 mentioned digital memorials
Cruse Bereavement Support recorded 9,200 helpline interactions in 2024 in which callers discussed digital memorials, AI generated tribute videos or social media legacy decisions, up from 2,100 calls in 2021.6
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. FT: UK funeral tech raised 38 million pounds in 2024
The Financial Times reported that UK funeral and grief technology firms raised 38 million pounds of equity funding across 11 deals in 2024, more than triple the 11 million pounds raised across 4 deals in 2022.8
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. CMA opens 6 inquiries into funeral firms using AI driven price quotes
The Competition and Markets Authority opened 6 inquiries in 2024 into UK funeral firms whose AI driven online quoting tools were alleged to obscure mandatory disbursement costs, with two firms agreeing to undertakings.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 counselling and support of grieving families.11
12. 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.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 honour loved ones.13
14. ICO: 19 complaints in 2024 over AI use of deceased persons' data
The Information Commissioner's Office logged 19 formal complaints during 2024 specifically involving AI processing of a deceased person's voice or imagery, a category that recorded fewer than 3 cases in 2021.14
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, memorialisation, or communication with the funeral home.15
16. Marie Curie: 12 percent of bereaved Britons used an AI grief chatbot in 2024
Marie Curie research published in late 2024 found that 12 percent of recently bereaved adults in the UK had used an AI grief chatbot or memorial app within the first 6 months of loss, rising to 19 percent among under 35s.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 organisers, is driving the digital transformation of the industry.17
18. 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.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. NAFD: 41 percent of UK funeral directors used AI tools in 2024
The National Association of Funeral Directors reported in late 2024 that 41 percent of its UK members had used at least one AI tool, most commonly for eulogy drafting or service script preparation, up from 12 percent in 2022.20
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 personalises with specific memories and details.21
22. Ofcom: 38 percent of UK adults uncomfortable with AI voice cloning of deceased
Ofcom's 2024 online attitudes survey found 38 percent of UK adults reported being uncomfortable with AI voice cloning of a deceased relative, the strongest negative reaction across 11 AI use cases tested.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 colourised and restored with 95% accuracy to be displayed at memorial services.23
24. ONS records 581,363 deaths in England and Wales in 2024
The Office for National Statistics registered 581,363 deaths in England and Wales during 2024, up about 2 percent on the 2019 baseline, fuelling demand for AI scheduling and digital obituary tools across UK funeral homes.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. Pure Cremation reports 22 percent of bookings via AI chat in 2024
Pure Cremation, one of the UK's largest direct cremation providers, reported in 2024 that 22 percent of its new bookings were initiated through an AI chat interface, with conversion rates 14 percent higher than phone enquiries.26
27. 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.27
28. Telegraph: 67 percent of UK adults expect AI assistance in funeral planning by 2030
A Telegraph commissioned poll in 2025 found 67 percent of UK adults expect AI to play a meaningful role in funeral planning by 2030, with cost comparison and eulogy drafting cited as the top two anticipated uses.28
29. 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.29
30. Guardian: 1 in 4 UK adults have asked ChatGPT for a personal speech
The Guardian cited a YouGov poll in early 2025 showing 25 percent of UK adults have asked ChatGPT or a similar tool to help draft a personal speech, with 7 percent having used it specifically for a funeral or memorial.30
31. 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.31
32. 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.32
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 centre. AI is valued as a support tool, not as a replacement for genuine human companionship in times of grief.
Sources
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- BBC(bbc.co.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Co op Funeralcare(coop.co.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Cruse Bereavement Support(cruse.org.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Financial Times(ft.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- CMA(gov.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Grand View Research(grandviewresearch.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- ICO(ico.org.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Marie Curie(mariecurie.org.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Market Research Future(marketresearchfuture.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- NAFD(nafd.org.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Ofcom(ofcom.org.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- ONS(ons.gov.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Pure Cremation(purecremation.co.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- The Telegraph(telegraph.co.uk)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Guardian(theguardian.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are people comfortable using AI to help write a eulogy?
Yes, to a striking degree. An industry study found that 85% of consumers feel comfortable using AI to help write a eulogy for a loved one, suggesting it is increasingly seen as a helpful support during times of grief.
How are funeral homes using AI?
In many practical ways. Around 85% of funeral homes offer digital memorial pages, AI can cut obituary writing time by half, and chatbots already handle about 60% of routine inquiries. Roughly a third of funeral homes also use AI to help draft celebrant scripts.
Do funeral professionals expect AI to become important?
Yes. Three-quarters of funeral directors believe AI will become a key partner within five years, mainly for administrative tasks, and more than three-quarters view adopting it as a business necessity. NAFD reported that 41% of its UK members had already used at least one AI tool by late 2024.
Will AI replace the human side of funerals?
The consensus is firmly no. Around 80% of people believe empathy and genuine human compassion must remain an exclusively human quality that AI cannot replace. Technology is valued as a support tool, not a substitute for human connection in moments of grief.