Former Disney star Calum Worthy is facing severe criticism for his app, 2wai, which uses artificial intelligence to generate interactive avatars of deceased loved ones. The app, co-founded with producer Russell Geyser, aims to create a "living archive of humanity" by allowing users to upload a three-minute video to create a digital likeness, referred to as a "HoloAvatar."
The concept has sparked widespread outrage, with social media users condemning it as "demonic, dishonest, and dehumanizing" and "objectively one of the most evil ideas imaginable." Critics have drawn parallels to the cautionary tale depicted in the science fiction series Black Mirror, specifically the episode "Be Right Back," and have expressed concerns about the ethical implications of monetizing grief and the potential for psychological harm. There are also worries that these AI recreations could be used for advertising or other purposes beyond the control of the deceased. Despite the backlash, the app is available on iOS devices, and the company has not provided details on how the AI recreates personality from minimal data.
