AI App Crafting Avatars of Deceased Relatives Faces Backlash
A new AI application, 2wai, is generating significant controversy by enabling users to create interactive avatars of deceased relatives. Co-founded by former Disney Channel star Calum Worthy, the app’s concept has drawn comparisons to the dystopian themes featured in the series “Black Mirror.”
Key Features of the 2wai App
The 2wai app gained attention after Worthy promoted it on social media platform X. The advertisement showcases an expectant mother using the app to interact with an AI-generated likeness of her deceased mother. This avatar engages with the family as the son grows and eventually has children.
How It Works
- The AI avatar is created by filming the deceased relative for three minutes.
- Users can experience conversations with their loved ones through the digital avatars.
- The app aims to provide a “living archive of humanity,” according to Worthy.
Response and Backlash
The advertisement quickly went viral, accumulating over 22 million views. However, the reception has not been wholly positive. Despite receiving 6,000 likes on Worthy’s original post, many responses criticized the app’s concept.
- One user labeled the technology as “objectively one of the most evil ideas imaginable,” earning 210,000 likes.
- Another reacted with disbelief that a former Disney star would be involved in such a venture, gaining 139,000 likes.
- Critics expressed concerns about the ethics of profiting from grief, with one user stating they would not want a digital version of themselves.
App Pricing Structure
The 2wai app is free to download. However, it includes options for purchasing premium avatars and digital items. Critics argue this could exploit vulnerable individuals coping with loss.
The conversation surrounding 2wai highlights the broader implications of using technology to simulate relationships with the deceased. As discussions unfold, the app remains a polarizing topic among users on social media platforms.
