Former Disney Star's Controversial AI Venture
Calum Worthy, the 34-year-old actor best known for his role as Dez Wade in Disney Channel's Austin & Ally, is facing significant public criticism for his new artificial intelligence application. The app, named 2wai, enables users to create digital avatars of deceased loved ones, promising to keep their memory alive through technology.
The Disturbing Demonstration
In a recent post on X that sparked immediate controversy, Mr Worthy shared an advertisement asking: 'What if the loved ones we've lost could be part of our future?' The promotional video depicts a pregnant woman using the app to communicate with an AI recreation of her dead mother. The narrative progresses to show this digital grandmother reading bedtime stories to the newborn, engaging with the child after school, and even discussing the birth of their own future children.
The company, which Worthy co-founded with Hollywood producer Russell Geyser, describes its mission as 'building a living archive of humanity'. The app's slogan boldly claims: 'With 2wai, three minutes can last forever', referring to the brief video recording required to generate a personalised avatar.
Public Backlash and Ethical Concerns
Social media users have reacted with horror to the concept, with many drawing parallels to dystopian science fiction. One commenter described 2wai as 'objectively one of the most evil ideas imaginable', while another branded it 'demonic, dishonest, and dehumanizing'.
The technology has raised serious ethical questions about grief exploitation and digital consent. 'Nothing says compassion like turning someone's grief into a business opportunity,' wrote one critical X user. Another commented bluntly: 'You need to be put in prison.'
Many observers immediately noted the striking resemblance to the Black Mirror episode 'Be Right Back', where a grieving woman recreates her deceased partner using similar technology. 'I'd love to understand what pedigree of entrepreneurs unironically pitches black mirror episodes as startups,' jibed one commenter.
How the Technology Works
The 2wai application, pronounced 'two way', is currently available on iOS devices through the App Store. It enables users to create what the company terms 'HoloAvatars' – animated interfaces for chatbots designed to resemble real or fictional people.
While the app offers default avatars including a personal trainer named Darius and historical figures like Shakespeare, the most controversial feature allows creation of custom avatars from just a three-minute video recording of a real person. The company has not disclosed how such limited data can accurately recreate someone's personality, and failed to respond to requests for further technical details.
Experts from the University of Cambridge have previously warned about the dangers of so-called 'deadbots'. Their research suggests these digital recreations could cause psychological harm and potentially 'haunt' the living. Dr Tomasz Hollanek from Cambridge's Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence cautioned that 'the potential psychological effect, particularly at an already difficult time, could be devastating.'
Despite the backlash, Worthy isn't the first to explore this controversial territory. In 2020, Kanye West gifted Kim Kardashian a hologram of her late father, and AI has since been used to recreate voices of deceased celebrities including Edith Piaf and James Dean. However, the ethical debate surrounding this emerging 'digital afterlife industry' continues to intensify as technology advances.