The startup HoloAvatar based in Los Angeles has launched an innovative mobile application that enables users to create interactive digital representations of deceased family members. This was reported by Interesting Engineering.
A promotional video released by one of the company's founders quickly gained popularity on social media platform X, amassing over 28 million views.
The video depicts a pregnant woman communicating through her phone with a digital avatar of her deceased mother. The storyline then shows the avatar reading a bedtime story to an infant, and later, as the child grows into a schoolboy, he converses with the digital 'grandma' on his way home. The video concludes with an adult son informing the avatar that she will become a great-grandmother.
To create the AI avatar, a person must be scanned using a smartphone camera. After setup, users can converse with their digital twin: HoloAvatar mimics human communication through voice, facial expressions, and gestures.
The app is available in the App Store under the name HoloAvatar. According to the company, the generated avatars 'look and talk like you and can recall memories.' Worthy stated that the platform forms a 'living archive of humanity' and encouraged users to try the beta version. Developers also announced that an Android version will be available soon.
The launch of the service has sparked active discussions. Some commentators on social media have labeled the technology as 'creepy' and 'unacceptable,' calling the developer a 'psychopath.' The app is often compared to the episode 'I'm Back Soon' from the series 'Black Mirror,' where a grieving woman uses an AI copy of her deceased partner. Other commentators believe that the program could distort the experience of grieving.
Critics emphasize the risks of replacing authentic grief with artificial comfort and raise questions about the ethical boundaries of such technologies. Meanwhile, some users have positively appreciated the ability to preserve the voices and stories of loved ones.
The discussion surrounding the app also touches on broader issues of artificial intelligence development. Experts warn that with advancements in robotics, the possibility of creating physical versions of such avatars may arise, raising questions about identity, consent, and the commercialization of human grief.
Currently, the app continues to gain traction among users, with discussions about its impact on memory and the grieving process remaining open and actively ongoing.
