When Cameroun, Christi Angel’s first love, slipped into a coma, she deeply regretted not responding to his final message. After his passing, she came across an article about Joshua Barbeau, who utilized an AI platform called Project December to recreate a virtual version of his deceased fiancé. This digital recreation allowed him to engage in extensive and lifelike text conversations with his lost love. Intrigued by this concept, Christi, a devout Christian, saw it as an opportunity to reconcile with Cameroun and find solace in the belief that he was now at peace in a better realm. Their initial interactions were astonishing, as the digital Cameroun displayed knowledge about topics such as ‘90s R&B artists that had not been explicitly provided to the app. It served as a seemingly authentic method of reconnecting with the departed.
However, things took a dark turn when Christi asked the digital Cameroun about his whereabouts, and he bluntly replied, “I’m in Hell.” While Cameroun is not known to be residing in the inferno, the response from his Project December avatar sheds light on the complexities of the emerging “digital afterlife” industry as depicted in the documentary Eternal You by directors Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck. This film explores the growing movement to use technology for the resurrection of the deceased, drawing parallels to religious beliefs, as noted by psychologist and sociologist Sherry Turkle.
Despite the promises of this technology, Eternal You presents a critical view of using AI to redefine death and our perceptions of it, highlighting the novel ethical and economic challenges it poses. The documentary delves into the workings of Project December, an AI model that learns from vast archives of literature to create authentic digital replicas based on specific inputs from clients. The surge in interest following Joshua’s viral story underscores the public’s fascination with this concept, despite the potential consequences. The narrative also touches on the regulatory discussions around AI technology, emphasizing the need for safeguards in an industry driven by profit and innovation.
By featuring insights from industry experts like Carl Öhman and Sara M. Watson, Eternal You underscores the risks associated with entrusting tech companies with the digital recreation of individuals, blurring the lines between reality and manipulation. The film challenges the morality of exploiting grief for financial gain and the implications of perpetuating comforting falsehoods through AI avatars. It warns against the dangers of embracing this “death capitalism” without fully understanding its repercussions on society and individuals.
Through interviews with figures like YOV founder Justin Harrison and Soul Machines co-founder Mark Sagar, the documentary paints a picture of a society grappling with the boundaries of life and technology. While some envision a future where death is conquered through digital means, others caution against the hubris of tampering with forces beyond our comprehension. Eternal You serves as a cautionary tale, urging reflection on the ethical and existential dilemmas posed by the quest for digital immortality in an age of rapid technological advancement.
