The startup HoloAvatar from Los Angeles has launched a new mobile application that allows users to create interactive digital replicas of deceased family members. This was reported by Interesting Engineering.
A promotional video published by co-founder Calum Worthy quickly gained popularity on social media, amassing over 28 million views on platform X.
The video depicts a pregnant woman communicating through her phone with the avatar of her deceased mother. Subsequently, the avatar reads a story to an infant, and later, as the child grows into a school-aged kid, they converse with the digital 'grandmother' on their way home. The video concludes with an adult son informing the avatar that she will become a great-grandmother.
To create this AI avatar, users need to scan their face using a smartphone camera. Once set up, the avatar can mimic human interaction through voice, facial expressions, and gestures.
The app is available in the App Store under the name HoloAvatar. According to the company, the created images 'look and speak like you, and can also recreate your memories.' Worthy stated that the platform is forming a 'living archive of humanity' and encouraged users to try the beta version. Developers also revealed that an Android version will be released soon.
The service's launch has sparked vigorous discussions. Some commenters on social media labeled the technology as 'scary' and 'unacceptable,' branding the developer as a 'psychopath.' The app is frequently compared to the episode 'Be Right Back' from the series 'Black Mirror,' where a grieving woman uses an AI copy of her deceased partner. Others argue that the program may distort the process of grieving.
Critics highlight the risks of replacing genuine sorrow with artificial comfort and raise questions about the ethical boundaries of using such technologies. Meanwhile, some users have positively evaluated the ability to preserve the voices and stories of loved ones.
The discussions around the app also touch on broader issues regarding the development of artificial intelligence. Experts warn that as robotics advance, 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 spread among users, and discussions about its impact on memory and the processes of grieving remain open and ongoing.
