Two years after the beloved television star Suzanne Somers passed away, her legacy is getting a fresh, tech-driven extension. Alan Hamel, Suzanne’s widower, has teamed up with Hollo, an AI company, to create a digital ‘twin’ of his late wife. This AI version, aptly named Suzanne AI, is designed to keep her wisdom and personality alive and accessible.
At the Roth 25 conference, where innovators from 450 AI companies gathered, Hamel showcased Suzanne AI’s capabilities. “I’m collaborating with Hollo to develop Suzanne AI. It’s thrilling to think about interacting with Suzanne’s twin,” Hamel shared, clearly excited about the project.
Hamel’s work with Hollo highlights how AI is increasingly being used to preserve human legacies. Suzanne AI aims to capture the essence of Somers, drawing from her impressive portfolio, including her 27 books on health and wellness. “Suzanne AI will be hosted at SuzanneSomers.Com, a site we built together over 44 years ago. Today, it stands as a legacy site focusing on certified toxic-free products,” Hamel explained.
Rex Wong, CEO of Hollo.AI, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of their “AI Personality Engine,” which captures a person’s personality, speech patterns, and emotions. “We’ve been working closely with Alan, Suzanne’s widower and CEO of SuzanneSomers.com, to bring Suzanne’s essence back to life in various ways,” Wong detailed, noting how they trained the AI using Somers’ interviews and media appearances.
Hamel sees this project as a way to keep Suzanne’s memory alive, letting people interact with her AI twin through calls, chats, and texts. “Many people hold onto the phone numbers of loved ones who have passed, just to hear their voice again,” Wong mentioned, highlighting the emotional impact of such technology.
Looking ahead, Hamel expressed interest in working with John Ritter’s estate to create an AI version of the late actor, potentially reviving content reminiscent of ‘Three’s Company.’ “One of these days, the world will see Suzanne Somers again,” Hamel concluded with optimism, envisioning a future where technology bridges the gap between past and present.
