Two years after Suzanne Somers died at 76 after battling breast cancer, her widower, Alan Hamel, is using technology to keep her memory alive. On Tuesday, Alan told People that he has created an AI clone of Suzanne called the Suzanne AI Twin, and eventually, he plans on making it available so fans of the late actress can interact with her, too.
Alan said that those who have been able to see the AI version of Suzanne have been “blown away.”
“When you look at the finished one next to the real Suzanne, you can’t tell the difference,” he said. “It’s amazing. And I mean, I’ve been with Suzanne for 55 years, so I know what her face looks like, and when I just look at the two of them side by side, I really can’t tell which one is the real and which one is the AI.”
In order for Suzanne’s twin to know everything that the real Suzanne would have known, they’ve been programmed with all of the books the actress wrote along with “hundreds of interviews” that she did over the course of her career so that she will be able to answer any question someone asks her.
But would Suzanne herself approve? According to Alan, yes — this is actually something they talked about years before her death, and he loves “being able to fulfill her wish.” Though he admitted that it was “a little strange” talking to his late wife’s AI twin at first, but it only took a few minutes before he was used to the idea.
And as for their family? He said they “really love” it.
“I’m glad to hear that from my family because I wasn’t sure how they would take it, but they’re all young and very successful, and they thought this would be a great tribute to Suzanne herself,” he said.
Fans don’t all feel the same way, though, judging by their reactions to the news on X — and what it could mean about the future.
“If AI is used to ‘bring loved ones back to life’ it will be the biggest mental health crisis of our lifetimes,” one person wrote.
Others were simply concerned with Alan, who was married to Suzanne for more than 50 years before her death.
“Maybe someone should have a talk with this guy and make sure he’s okay?” another person asked.
