A former Disney Channel star has ignited a fierce ethical debate by launching a controversial AI app that enables users to create and converse with digital avatars of their deceased relatives.
The Controversial Promotion
Calum Worthy, best known for his role in Austin & Ally, shared a promotional video for his new company, 2wai, earlier this week. The advert depicts a pregnant woman seeking maternity advice from her mother via a video call. In a poignant twist, the clip reveals that the mother is not really there; she has passed away, and the woman is actually speaking to an AI-generated avatar created from a mere three-minute recording made before her mother's death.
The promotional video ends with the emotionally charged text: "With 2wai, three minutes can last forever." Worthy accompanied the post with a caption that asked, "What if the loved ones we've lost could be part of our future?"
Public Backlash and 'Black Mirror' Comparisons
The advert was met with immediate criticism and unease on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Many users were quick to draw parallels to the dystopian television series Black Mirror, specifically the episode titled "Be Right Back," in which a woman uses a similar service to resurrect her deceased partner.
"Isn't this very nearly a literal Black Mirror episode?" one user questioned. Another critic expressed concern, stating, "What a wonderful idea – gradually replace my internal representation and memories of my deceased loved ones with AI slop!"
Further criticism highlighted potential psychological harm, with one person noting the app could cause "a lot of pain" by creating false expectations of reconnection. They argued that the technology could never truly reproduce the presence of a lost loved one and might disrupt the natural grieving process. The Independent has reached out to both Worthy and 2wai for comment on the backlash.
Beyond the Deceased: Other App Features
While the feature for deceased relatives has captured public attention, the 2wai app has broader applications. It also allows users to interact with AI versions of historical figures such as William Shakespeare, Florence Nightingale, King Henry VIII, and Frida Kahlo. These avatars are designed to act as real-time teaching assistants for an immersive educational experience.
The platform also includes a digitised avatar of Worthy himself, alongside other original characters like a personal chef named Luca and an astrologist called Celeste. In an interview with Variety, Worthy explained that the technology empowers celebrities and artists to cultivate "meaningful relationships with fans around the world" without being online constantly, offering a one-on-one, human-like connection.
Worthy, who began his career as a child actor on Disney Channel, has since appeared in critically acclaimed series such as The Act and American Vandal.
