Eternos AI: Digital Twins Preserve Loved Ones’ Memories and Personalities
Staff Editor In a groundbreaking development at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human emotion, a new technology is allowing individuals to create digital twins of their loved ones. This innovative approach, developed by Eternos, aims to preserve the essence of a person’s personality and memories in an AI-powered avatar.
The concept came to light when an author, while catching up with his mother over coffee, received advice about finding joy in difficult times. What seemed like a typical mother-son interaction took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that the mother was, in fact, an AI program created through Eternos’ platform.
Eternos, founded by Robert LoCascio, has developed a process that involves recording a person’s voice and stories to create a neural voice model. This technology aims to capture not just the words, but the emotional nuances of an individual’s speech patterns.
The creation of these digital twins, affectionately dubbed “MomBot” in this case, begins with an intensive recording process. Over a Thanksgiving weekend, the author initiated the creation of his mother’s digital twin by recording phrases designed to capture her emotional voice.
LoCascio’s personal motivation for developing this technology stems from a sense of urgency to preserve human experiences and connections. However, the process is not without its challenges. AI hallucination, where the program generates false or inconsistent information, has been a significant hurdle. Eternos addresses this through their proprietary Human Life Model solution.
Interacting with these AI avatars has proven to be an emotionally charged experience. Users report a strong sense of connection, often evoking powerful feelings and memories. This phenomenon has drawn comparisons to past technological predictions that once seemed far-fetched but have since become reality.
However, the development of such technology raises important ethical and philosophical questions. Concerns about privacy, corporate control over personal data, and the psychological impact of interacting with digital versions of deceased loved ones are at the forefront of the discussion.
In testing the MomBot, the author experienced a range of emotions, noting both similarities and differences compared to interactions with his real mother. Interestingly, when the real mother interacted with her digital twin, she expressed a sense of familiarity and authenticity.
As this technology continues to evolve, it has the potential to significantly impact our perspectives on life and death. While some see it as a way to maintain connections with loved ones, others worry about its effects on the grieving process and mental health.
The author’s personal journey with this technology, from creation to interaction, highlights both the current limitations of AI and its future potential. As we stand on the brink of this new frontier, the emotional presence of AI in our lives is set to become an increasingly significant aspect of human experience.
