Alan Hamel Unveils AI Clone of Late Wife Suzanne Somers

Alan Hamel, a renowned Canadian entertainer and television host, has introduced an AI clone of his late wife, actress Suzanne Somers, who passed away from breast cancer at the age of 76 in 2023. This innovative project, dubbed the “Suzanne AI Twin,” aims to replicate Somers’ persona so effectively that Hamel claims he struggles to distinguish between the AI version and the real individual.

While speaking to People, the 89-year-old producer expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Obviously, Suzanne was greatly loved, not only by her family, but by millions of people.” He explained that the AI clone was developed using data from “hundreds of interviews” and insights from Somers’ 27 books. Hamel remarked, “It was Suzanne… When you look at the finished one next to the real Suzanne, you can’t tell the difference.”

This AI version of Somers is designed to provide health advice, which Hamel claims has been vetted by medical professionals. Given the potential pitfalls of AI technology, including its tendency to generate inaccurate information, the public is encouraged to be cautious about the AI’s recommendations. The clone will eventually be hosted on the website SuzanneSomers.com, where it may also promote health products previously marketed by Somers.

Hamel’s initiative represents a growing trend in the tech industry, where companies have explored the concept of using AI to “resurrect” the deceased. This includes offerings from startups that enable AI-driven recreations to participate in events such as funerals. Notably, even before the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI in late 2022, a UK startup had developed a similar AI that could attend its creator’s funeral.

Questions arise about Hamel’s motivations in creating this AI clone. Some speculate whether he is attempting to cope with grief or maintain his late wife’s legacy. In his interview, he mentioned that the idea was inspired by futurist and computer scientist Ray Kurzweil, a long-time friend of the couple. Hamel stated, “We knew it was coming… It took decades to happen, but [Kurzweil] knew it was going to happen.”

Hamel further explained that Somers found the idea of an AI twin to be “very interesting” and believed it would serve her fans well by providing valuable health information. He added, “Fans can come and just hang out with her… She’ll be available 24/7, and I think it’ll be really wonderful.”

In March 2023, US Weekly reported that Hamel collaborated with the humanoid robotics company Realbotix to create a “digital twin” of Somers, suggesting he might also have been engaging with a robotic version of her. An image published by the magazine, however, did not resemble Somers closely, leaving uncertainty about the specifics of the robotic project.

As the boundaries of technology continue to blur, Hamel’s venture into AI raises significant ethical considerations about memory, legacy, and the implications of interacting with digital recreations of loved ones. As the world watches, the introduction of the Suzanne AI Twin may well spark a broader conversation about the role of artificial intelligence in our lives.