Conversing with the deceased has remained a deeply ingrained desire for humankind, from Ulysses' encounter with the dead seer Teiresias to the Witch of Endor's endeavour to raise spirits for defeating the Philistines. Today, advancements in AI technology have brought us closer to the possibility of communicating with departed loved ones, making this ancient fascination more relevant than ever.

While once condemned as the realm of black magic, this curiosity has given rise to a surprising array of methodologies aimed at bridging the gap between the living and the departed. Animated cadavers, spiritual journeys to the afterlife, messages channeled through mediums, and altered states of consciousness are just a few of the diverse approaches that have been employed to connect with the departed.

In this talk, author Gary Lachman will look at our history and the future of our attempts to communicate with the dead and will shed light on this intriguing aspect of human curiosity and, with any luck, will raise a spirit or two.