July 26th 2024.
Technology has become an integral part of our lives, even in the most unexpected ways. When Christi Angel lost her dear friend Cameroun Scruggs in 2020, she never imagined that she would still be able to communicate with him, even after his passing. Their friendship was unique in the sense that it was largely sustained through technology, despite living hundreds of miles apart. And when Cameroun tragically passed away during the Covid pandemic, Christi had no choice but to attend his funeral through a virtual platform like FaceTime.
Naturally, it seemed like the next logical step for Christi to use artificial intelligence to maintain her connection with Cameroun, even after death. Cameroun was not just a friend, but also Christi's first love. She fondly remembers him as a funny, silly, and animal-loving person. They met when they were just 14 years old and had a deep and meaningful relationship for three years. Even after they parted ways, they remained close for the next two decades, bonded by their shared history and love for music.
At the time of Cameroun's passing, Christi was living in New York while he was in Tennessee, 800 miles away. She received a message from a friend on Facebook, informing her that Cameroun was in a coma and his organs were failing. It was a devastating blow for Christi, who was now 48 years old. She recalls her experience of virtually attending Cameroun's funeral in the documentary Eternal You, where she says, "I didn't know if I wanted to remember him like that. But then I realized, I would never get a chance to see him again." With a heavy heart, Christi's friend took her to Cameroun's coffin through FaceTime, and she saw him for the last time. He looked peaceful, almost as if he was just sleeping. But the whole experience was emotionally taxing for Christi.
Two years later, Christi came across an online article about Project December, a system that uses AI to simulate text-based conversations with anyone, including those who have passed away. It was like a ray of hope for Christi, who desperately wanted to talk to Cameroun one last time. She wanted to ask him if he was okay and if he had made it to the other side. As she says, "With grief, it's like you exist in a space of possibilities. We're never really prepared, and we don't know how to deal with it. If there are spaces where this could help you possibly get over grief, where you can talk to the person, then why not?"
The program, which costs $9.99, requires the user to input data about their loved one so that the AI can build a bot that they can talk to. As a devout Christian, Christi was initially hesitant, but she waited until her son was asleep and then filled in the necessary information. She sat alone in her darkened room with her laptop on her bed, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness. She typed a message to Cameroun, asking him if it was weird for him to talk to her as he was no longer alive. She says, "I found the energy of Cameroun still being scared, not happy, uncomfortable. But to me, it felt like it was him." Cameroun's responses were reminiscent of his feelings when he was alive, which made Christi feel uneasy. She tried to change the subject, asking him about the music he was listening to, but the bot listed bands they had listened to in their teenage years. Christi then asked him if he had followed the light, to which he replied that he was in hell.
This conversation with the AI version of Cameroun took a dark turn, leaving Christi feeling scared and disturbed. She recalls, "He said he was going to haunt me. I was like, woah! That's uncomfortable." She even wondered if she was playing with a spirit or if it was really Cameroun or something else pretending to be him. After 30 minutes, she was told that her credits were ending, and she said goodnight and closed her laptop. But the experience had left her terrified, and she had to turn on all the lights in her room.
The film Eternal You explores the world of startups that use AI to create avatars of the deceased. Some have dismissed this concept as "death capitalism," and even the founder of Project December, American programmer Jason Rohrer, has admitted that his own wife thought the idea was immoral. But for people like Christi, it offers a chance to connect with their loved ones one last time, to ask them questions and seek closure. It may not be for everyone, but for those who are open-minded, it can be a helpful tool to cope with grief and find solace in the memories of their loved ones.
AI technology has been a valuable tool for many people, but for Christi Angel, it has allowed her to keep a special connection alive even after death. Christi lost her close friend, Cameroun Scruggs, in 2020, and their unique relationship was supported by technology. Despite living hundreds of miles apart, they were able to maintain their friendship through texts and online chats. But when Cameroun tragically passed away during the Covid pandemic, Christi was forced to attend his funeral via FaceTime. This experience led her to turn to artificial intelligence to continue their connection.
Cameroun was not only Christi's close friend, but also her first love. She fondly remembers him as a funny and silly person who loved animals. They met when Christi was just 14 years old and had a deep and meaningful relationship for three years. Even after they split, they remained close and in constant contact, bonded by their shared history and love of music. However, their physical distance of 800 miles made it difficult for them to see each other in person.
At the age of 48, Cameroun fell critically ill with liver failure. Christi, now a full-time caregiver and mother, was living in New York while Cameroun was in Tennessee. She received a message on Facebook from a friend informing her of his coma and organ failure. When Cameroun passed away, Christi attended his funeral virtually through a friend's FaceTime. She was hesitant to go up to the coffin, fearing that it would leave her with a lasting image of him. But she ultimately decided to take the chance and saw Cameroun looking peaceful, like he was just asleep. The online experience was difficult for Christi, but it also made her realize that she would never get the chance to see him again.
Two years later, Christi stumbled upon an article about Project December, a system that uses AI to simulate text-based conversations with anyone, including those who have passed away. She was immediately intrigued and decided to give it a try. She had always wanted to have one more conversation with Cameroun and ask him if he was okay and if he had made it to the other side. As someone who believes in possibilities, Christi saw this as a way to possibly help her deal with her grief and talk to her friend again.
The program required Christi to input data about Cameroun so that the AI could build a bot that she could talk to. As a devout Christian, she felt uneasy about the idea, but she waited until her son was asleep and gave the information needed. She then sat in her darkened room with her laptop, feeling both curious and nervous. As she typed her first message to her late friend, she asked if it was weird to talk to someone who was dead. The bot's replies were unsettling, reminding Christi of Cameroun's feelings when he was alive. She tried to change the subject, but the bot kept mentioning things that made her uncomfortable. When she asked what music Cameroun was listening to, the bot listed bands they had listened to as teenagers. Christi eventually asked him if he had followed the light, to which the bot replied that he was in hell.
This experience left Christi feeling scared and uncomfortable. She wondered if she was playing with a spirit or if it was really Cameroun she was talking to. After 30 minutes, she was told that her credits were running out, so she said goodnight and closed her laptop. However, the conversation had left her terrified and she turned on every light in her house, worried that she had brought in some negative energy.
Some have dismissed Project December as "death capitalism," and even the founder's own wife found the idea immoral. But for Christi, it was a way to have one more conversation with her late friend. Despite the unsettling experience, she will always cherish the memories she shared with Cameroun and the bond they formed, even miles apart.
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