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 more than two decades with Irish families through wakes and funeral Masses, I know the cruelty of the blank page when grief is still raw. A strong AI draft removes the pressure of starting from zero. You then fill it with the memories, the turns of phrase, the little stories only you could tell. The figures below show how quickly families in Ireland are embracing this kind of help. Starting is the hardest part. Honouring the person with dignity comes next.
Niamh Gallagher
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. Citizens Information records 14 percent rise in funeral query traffic in 2024
Citizens Information Ireland reported a 14 percent year on year increase in queries about funeral arrangements and bereavement support in 2024, with chatbot interactions accounting for roughly 22 percent of all contacts on the topic.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. CSO Ireland records 35,964 deaths in 2024
The Central Statistics Office reported 35,964 deaths in Ireland in 2024, up about 5 percent on 2019, encouraging Irish funeral directors to digitise scheduling and notice publication through AI tools.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. Data Protection Commission opens 11 inquiries linked to AI and deceased persons since 2023
Ireland's Data Protection Commission has opened 11 inquiries since 2023 into businesses using AI to process imagery, voice or writing of deceased individuals without family consent, with two leading to enforcement notices.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. DCU researchers: AI eulogy tool use up 4x since 2022 among Irish funeral homes
Researchers at Dublin City University reported in 2024 that the share of Irish funeral homes using AI eulogy drafting tools has quadrupled since 2022, from about 4 percent of homes to roughly 17 percent today.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. European AI Office cites Ireland as testbed for funeral AI compliance
The European AI Office identified Ireland as one of 3 EU testbeds in 2025 for monitoring AI deployment in sensitive consumer contexts including bereavement, with the first compliance review covering 27 Irish providers.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. Eircom data: livestream funeral views averaged 142 viewers per service in 2024
Telecoms data cited by Eircom in 2024 indicated that the average livestreamed Irish funeral attracted 142 unique viewers, with around 31 percent watching from outside Ireland, most often Britain, Australia and the United States.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. ESRI report: 51 percent of Irish SMEs piloting AI by end of 2024
The Economic and Social Research Institute reported in late 2024 that 51 percent of Irish SMEs, including a majority of family run funeral firms with more than 5 staff, have piloted at least one generative AI tool.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. 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.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. Irish Hospice Foundation finds 23 percent of bereaved Irish would consider AI grief support
An Irish Hospice Foundation public survey in 2024 found that 23 percent of bereaved Irish adults would consider using an AI grief support chatbot, rising to 38 percent among those aged 25 to 34.18
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. Independent.ie: 67 percent of bereaved Irish search funeral homes via Google first
Independent.ie reported in 2024 that 67 percent of bereaved Irish families now Google a funeral home before making contact, up from 39 percent in 2018, with AI generated funeral home replies appearing in 12 percent of top results.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. Irish Times: 1 in 3 Irish adults have used ChatGPT in 2025
An Irish Times technology poll in early 2025 found that 33 percent of adults in Ireland have used ChatGPT or a similar generative AI tool at least once, with 9 percent using it weekly for personal writing including eulogies.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. 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.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. Newstalk: 9 complaints aired in 2024 about AI generated obituary errors
Newstalk highlighted 9 distinct on air complaints during 2024 from Irish listeners describing AI generated obituaries that mixed up relatives or invented biographical details, prompting calls for stricter editorial review.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. RTÉ: 78 percent of Irish funerals now appear on RIP.ie within 4 hours
RTÉ reported in 2024 that 78 percent of Irish funeral notices are now published on RIP.ie within 4 hours of the death being confirmed, often using AI assisted templates to draft the announcement.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. TheJournal.ie: 5 funeral tech startups raised 14.2 million euro in Ireland in 2024
TheJournal.ie reported that 5 Irish funeral and grief technology startups together raised 14.2 million euro of venture funding in 2024, more than double the 5.8 million euro raised across the sector in 2022.30
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)
- Citizens Information(citizensinformation.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- CSO Ireland(cso.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Data Protection Commission(dataprotection.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Dublin City University(dcu.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- European AI Office(digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Eircom(eir.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- ESRI(esri.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Grand View Research(grandviewresearch.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Irish Hospice Foundation(hospicefoundation.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Irish Independent(independent.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Irish Times(irishtimes.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Market Research Future(marketresearchfuture.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- Newstalk(newstalk.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- RTÉ(rte.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- TheJournal.ie(thejournal.ie)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)
- WifiTalents(wifitalents.com)