AI App 2wai Offers Digital Immortality, Sparks Ethical Debate
Key Points
- 2wai creates AI avatars from short video recordings.
- Co‑founders are Calum Worthy and Russell Geyser.
- The app is marketed as a "living archive of humanity."
- A promotional video featuring a synthetic grandmother sparked strong online reaction.
- Public concerns include privacy, consent, and effects on grieving.
- Features include avatars of historical figures and specialized chatbots.
- The service is currently free, with possible future subscription models.
- Similar AI memory‑preservation efforts exist at Replika and HereAfter.
- Ethical questions revolve around posthumous consent and accountability.
2wai, an AI-driven platform co‑founded by former Disney Channel star Calum Worthy and Russell Geyser, lets users create lifelike digital avatars of themselves or others from a short video. The app markets the service as a "living archive of humanity," allowing interactions with recreated loved ones, historical figures, and personal chatbots. A promotional video featuring a synthetic grandmother sparked strong public reaction, with many drawing Black Mirror comparisons and raising concerns about privacy, consent, and the impact on grieving. While the technology promises new ways to preserve memory, critics warn of ethical and commercial pitfalls.
What Is 2wai?
2wai is an artificial‑intelligence application that generates digital avatars from a few minutes of video and personality details. Co‑founders Calum Worthy, a former Disney Channel star, and Russell Geyser describe the service as a "living archive of humanity," enabling users to interact with AI recreations of themselves, loved ones, or historical personalities.
Public Reaction to the Promotional Video
A recent promotional video shows a pregnant woman conversing with an avatar of her mother, later revealed to be a synthetic creation. The ad provoked intense discussion online, with many viewers likening the technology to scenarios from the show Black Mirror and expressing discomfort about the notion of “digital immortality.” Critics highlighted concerns about privacy, consent, and the potential impact on the grieving process.
Features and Use Cases
The platform offers a social‑network‑like environment where users can upload their likenesses to chat with future generations, seek advice from AI versions of historical figures, or employ specialized chatbots for cooking and travel tips. The service is currently available for free, though future monetization models have been suggested.
Ethical and Commercial Concerns
Observers note that 2wai is not the first venture into AI‑based memory preservation, referencing companies such as Replika and HereAfter. The core issues raised include questions of consent for posthumous avatars, accountability for AI behavior, and the commercial implications of charging for continued access to digital representations of deceased individuals.