‘Live Forever’ Metaverse Mode Defies Death With ‘Immortal’ Loved Ones

Screenshot via Somnium Space

When the metaverse comes to fruition, you could go to work at a virtual office, then visit your favorite fast-food restaurant for a pixel burger. When there’s time to spare, you could even pop over at the property of a relative that had passed on some years ago and catch up with them over drinks.

All these things, including the last bit, are very much on the horizon. As we speak, Czech virtual reality company Somnium Space is building a ‘Live Forever’ mode for people to gain virtual immortality and continue “living” past death.

These digital doubles will replicate the appearance, voice, and even the personality of their real-life selves. And a visit to their homes could be as simple as putting on a VR headset.

The idea to build immortal constructs stems from emotional pain. When the father of Somnium Space CEO Artur Sychov was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, Sychov mourned for himself and his young children, who might not be able to remember their grandfather when they grew up. He contemplated the possibility of uniting them through artificial intelligence.

Sychov told VICE that the “reborn” avatars might engage in conversations so believable, surviving loved ones could be convinced they were talking to the actual self in the first 10 minutes before remembering the character was an AI double. “That’s the goal,” he said.

Sychov detailed that, in his opinion, there’s a whole realm of possibilities to explore with the metaverse, and that it’s “much deeper” than a simple avenue for trading virtual products like NFTs.

The metaverse could extend into the metaphysical plane, allowing people to reach out to a long-gone loved one whenever they missed them.

Understandably, it would take a startling amount of data to build a convincing digital profile, and Somnium Space is markedly upfront that it would collect a great deal of personal information from interested members—with their permission, of course.

For starters, Somnium Space says it will strictly begin with recordings of an avatar on their virtual parcel of land. In time, it will also harvest conversations, facial expressions, movements, and more.

To respect users’ privacy, the ‘Live Forever’ mode will be opt-in to interested paying customers. Somnium Space stresses that it doesn’t sell personal data, so it’s charging users to store it. With that being said, the company still hopes to keep prices low, with early adopters forking out only about US$50 for a year.

As AI continues to improve, Sychov projects that encounters with a loved one’s virtual double could get more realistic long after their passing.

This prospect is only a few sleeps away. The first group of ‘Live Forever’ avatars, with basic conversational skills and movements, is expected to arrive next year.

[via Digital Trends, Motherboard, CNET, cover image via Somnium Space]