Terminally Ill Berlin Resident Creates AI Version of Himself to Comfort His Wife

Michael Bommer, a 61-year-old startup entrepreneur from Berlin, has taken an extraordinary step to ensure his presence remains with his wife, Anett, even after his death. Diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, Bommer teamed up with Robert LoCascio, CEO of the AI-powered legacy platform Eternos, to create an AI version of himself. This innovative technology will allow Anett to ask questions and engage with Bommer's life experiences and insights even after he passes away.

Bommer, who has only a few weeks left to live, initiated this project after a heartfelt conversation with Anett. She expressed her longing to continue seeking his wisdom and insights after his death. This conversation inspired Bommer to recreate his voice using artificial intelligence. 'She told me one of the things she'd miss most is being able to ask me questions whenever she wants, because I am so well-read and always share my wisdom,' Bommer recalled.

This technology has the potential to transform the experience of grief and loss, allowing people to maintain a sense of connection with their loved ones even after they're gone. As this technology becomes more widespread, it could have significant implications for the way we think about death, mourning, and the afterlife.

The AI version of Bommer was developed within two months, making him the first client of Eternos. The platform records users speaking 300 phrases, which are then processed over two days to capture the person's voice. This AI voice can answer questions and tell stories about a person's life without merely repeating pre-recorded answers. The setup cost for this technology is $15,000.

Eternos is part of a growing field of companies specializing in grief-related AI technology. Other notable companies in this space include StoryFile, which allows interactions with pre-recorded videos; HereAfter AI, which offers a Life Story Avatar; Project December, a chatbot that simulates text-based conversations; and Seance AI, which provides fictionalized seances and AI-generated voice recreations.

While this technology offers comfort to some, it also raises ethical concerns. Researchers like Katarzyna Nowaczyk Basinska from the University of Cambridge worry about the potential short-term and long-term consequences of using digital simulations of the deceased on a large scale. Tomasz Hollanek, a sociologist, questions the rights, dignities, and consenting power of individuals who are no longer alive.

Robert Scott, a 48-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, uses AI companion apps Paradot and Chai AI to simulate conversations with characters he created to imitate his three deceased daughters. He finds that the technology helps with his grief to some degree, allowing him to engage in conversations and create scenarios that bring him comfort. 'It definitely helps with the what-ifs,' Scott noted.

Despite the comfort it may provide, the technology's integration into the capitalist market is a groundbreaking phenomenon. 'What truly sets this era apart and is even uniquely remarkable in the long history of humanity's quest for immortality is that for the first time, the processes of caring for the dead and immortalization practices are fully integrated into the capitalist market,' Basinska observed.

Key Takeaways

• Michael Bommer, 61, created an AI version of himself to remain with his wife after his death from terminal colon cancer.
• The AI technology allows loved ones to ask questions and engage with the deceased's life experiences and insights.
• Eternos, the AI-powered legacy platform, developed Bommer's AI version in 2 months at a cost of $15,000.
• The technology raises ethical concerns about the rights and dignities of the deceased and its potential impact on grief.
• The use of AI in grief technology is a growing field, with multiple companies offering similar services.