Digital Afterlife: The App Creating AI Versions of Your Departed Loved Ones
A revolutionary application promising to transform deceased relatives into interactive 3D chatbots has ignited intense controversy across the UK. The app, named 2wai, enables users to create digital replicas of their loved ones that can communicate "beyond the grave," raising profound ethical questions about grief, memory, and the boundaries of artificial intelligence.
Founded by former Disney television star Calum Worthy, the technology allows people to upload footage of another person, which the AI then analyses to generate an avatar replicating both their appearance and personality traits. The Canadian actor, who gained fame in Disney's 2011 teen comedy series Austin & Ally, appears to be shifting his focus toward technology ventures with this latest offering.
Emotional Advertising Campaign Draws Mixed Reactions
A promotional video released by the company demonstrates the emotional potential of this technology through a multi-generational narrative. The advertisement follows a pregnant woman who creates an AI avatar of her mother before the older woman passes away. Following the birth of her child, the woman uses the app to have her mother's digital replica tell the same bedtime stories she once shared with her own children.
The narrative continues as the child grows into adulthood, eventually using the app at age thirty to show an ultrasound of his unborn child to his grandmother's avatar, who congratulates him on the pregnancy. This poignant demonstration has polarized viewers and sparked heated discussions about the appropriate use of such technology.
Mr Worthy defends his creation by stating the company is "building a living archive of humanity, one story at a time." However, the advertising campaign has attracted significant criticism on social media platforms, with many users expressing deep concerns about the ethical implications.
Public Backlash and Ethical Concerns
The response to 2wai's promotional material has been overwhelmingly negative in many quarters, with critics describing the concept as "demonic, dishonest, and dehumanizing." Another social media user sarcastically remarked: "Nothing says compassion like turning someone's grief into a business opportunity."
One particularly pointed criticism came from Alex Holland, who highlighted the potential emotional manipulation inherent in the subscription model. He noted that users who might wish to cancel their subscription would face the distressing choice between continuing payments or "never talk[ing] to your dead parents again." Mr Holland directly addressed Mr Worthy, stating: "You are a psychopath. Get help."
The company claims that creating a lifelike avatar requires only a brief sample of recorded interactions, with their slogan promising: "With 2wai, three minutes can last forever." However, the organisation has not disclosed technical details about how this process actually works, leaving many questions unanswered about the technology's capabilities and limitations.
Familiar Territory: Echoes of Black Mirror
This controversial application bears striking similarities to the plot of the Black Mirror episode 'Be Right Back,' where a grieving woman uses a service to create an AI-powered version of her deceased boyfriend, eventually progressing to an android replica. The parallel has not gone unnoticed by commentators, who see life imitating art in concerning ways.
Beyond recreating deceased relatives, 2wai also offers avatars based on fictional characters, historical figures, and celebrities - including Mr Worthy himself. The company released an early-access version earlier this year that initially focused on allowing users to chat with a "digital twin" of themselves before expanding to include other people.
As the debate continues, questions remain about the psychological impact of such technology on the grieving process, the commodification of human relationships, and the ethical responsibilities of companies operating in this emerging field of digital immortality.
