The virtual reality tool called “live forever mode” features digital avatars who can simulate a person’s voice, mannerisms and movements after just 30 minutes of the user being observed.
When technology entrepreneur Artur Sychov’s father was diagnosed with cancer, he was forced to accept a day may soon come when he wouldn’t be able to speak to him again.
The 38-year-old knew he would give anything to have another father-son conversation after his dad’s death.
So, using artificial intelligence, he got to work on a way that could make it happen for others in his position.
Artur has created a virtual reality tool called “live forever mode”. It features digital avatars who can simulate a person’s voice, mannerisms and movements after just 30 minutes of the user being observed.
The goal is for the avatar to live forever online as a memory of its creator so future generations of their family can interact with it.
Artur struggles to see any downsides to it.
“You can get to know the person,” he says. “You can hear their voice… You get to talk to them about different topics, and you get to inject a little bit of their personality.
“And with time, you’d actually be more and more precise. It would be more like them.”
It is just one of the many ways in which companies across the world are reimagining our relationship with the dead – but there are concerns.
“It’s really pushing on that fundamental anxiety that we have about the end of our being,” says Elaine Kasket, a cyber psychologist and author.
“Some people have a lot of anxiety around that… I guess I have a few concerns about playing on those really existential fears as a means of selling your products.”
Artur’s company Somnium Space is trialling his “live forever mode” at its headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, before its official launch.
Somnium Space is a 3D metaverse platform that users can access with a virtual reality headset. In this space, they exist as an avatar that can play games, create artwork, attend events and buy and sell virtual goods from other users.
It has already been downloaded 300,000 times since it was set up in 2017, and around 50 to 250 users log into the platform every day.
Artur uses the tool himself, with his avatar styled as a blue robot.
“You sound familiar,” Artur says, wearing a digital headset.
“I’m actually Artur,” his avatar responds.