Home / Technology / Former Disney Star's 'Deadbot' App Sparks Outrage Over Resurrecting the Dead
Former Disney Star's 'Deadbot' App Sparks Outrage Over Resurrecting the Dead
15 Nov
Summary
- Disney star Calum Worthy launches app to create AI avatars of dead loved ones
- App allows users to virtually interact with deceased relatives indefinitely
- Concept compared to disturbing Black Mirror episode, called 'demonic' and 'dehumanizing'
In a concerning development, former Disney star Calum Worthy, 34, has launched a new app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create digital avatars of deceased loved ones. The app, titled 2wai, promises to allow users to indefinitely interact with their lost relatives through these AI-powered 'HoloAvatars.'
The concept has sparked widespread backlash, with many social media users describing it as "demonic, dishonest, and dehumanizing." The app's disturbing advert, which shows a pregnant woman conversing with an AI recreation of her dead mother, has drawn comparisons to the Black Mirror episode "Be Right Back," a cautionary tale about the dangers of using technology to avoid grief.
Experts have warned that these so-called "deadbots" could cause significant psychological harm, potentially leading to "digital hauntings" as the AI avatars continue to interact with users even after the initial comfort period. There are also concerns that the deceased could be exploited for commercial purposes, such as advertising, without the consent of their loved ones.
Despite the enormous backlash, Worthy and his co-founder, Hollywood producer Russell Geyser, remain committed to their vision of a "living archive of humanity." However, many in the tech community have expressed outrage, with one commenter bluntly stating that the app's creators "need to be put in prison."
