Michael Bommer, a terminally ill entrepreneur, teams up with Eternos to develop an AI model of himself for his family. The use of AI for grief support raises ethical questions and debates on its broader implications.
Michael Bommer, a terminally ill 61-year-old startup entrepreneur from Berlin, has collaborated with Robert LoCascio, CEO of Eternos, to create an AI version of himself to provide comfort to his family after his passing. Eternos, an AI-powered legacy platform, built an interactive AI model of Bommer within two months, allowing his family to engage with his life experiences and insights. This technology, which costs $15,000 to set up, is part of a growing field of grief-related AI services.
Bommer, diagnosed with colon cancer, aims to leave a digital legacy for his wife Anett so she can still benefit from his wisdom and knowledge. The process involves recording phrases and personal data, which the AI uses to mimic his voice and persona. Eternos uses various large language models, including those from Meta and OpenAI, to develop these AI recreations.
Other companies in this space include StoryFile, HereAfter AI, Project December, and Seance AI, all offering similar services to help individuals cope with grief by interacting with digital versions of their loved ones.
The use of such technology has sparked debates regarding the ethical implications and potential long-term consequences. Researchers like Katarzyna Nowaczyk-Basinska from the University of Cambridge express concerns over the integration of these practices into the capitalist market.
In North Carolina, 48-year-old Robert Scott uses AI apps to simulate interactions with characters based on his three deceased daughters, finding some solace in these digital engagements.
While AI voices like Bommer’s can potentially help people navigate their grief, the technology raises questions about the rights of the deceased and the impact on mourning processes. For now, it remains an evolving intersection of technology, ethics, and human emotion.
