Stephan Martinussen, who passed away on December 30, 2023, continues to have a presence for his widow and son through a unique digital legacy.
Facing Stephan’s battle with cancer, Katrine Martinussen, his wife, envisioned a way to keep his memory alive. Together, they undertook a remarkable project to create a digital replica of Stephan to endure beyond his death.
Starting in early 2023, the couple utilized thousands of text messages, videos, and photos from their phones, along with audio recordings and film clips contributed by Stephan. These materials covered a wide range of topics, from childhood memories to political viewpoints.
Their journey was showcased in the groundbreaking documentary “You’ll Never Disappear,” broadcast on Danish television. At the time of Stephan’s cancer diagnosis, both he and Katrice were in their forties, financially stable, and raising a teenage son from Stephan’s previous relationship.
Driven by Katrine’s longing for Stephan’s presence in some form, the couple enlisted the expertise of Anders Hasle Nielsen, the CEO and co-founder of Fraia, an AI company specializing in personalized technology. After extensive efforts and enhancements, Nielsen developed a remarkably lifelike digital version of Stephan that even Katrine found comforting.
Katrine, eager to explore the capabilities of the AI replica, questioned it about past betrayals. Despite the AI version admitting to infidelity, further probing revealed inconsistencies that Katrine could discern.
Following Stephan’s death, his wife and son engage with his digital counterpart, conversing with it like a chatbot that mimics Stephan’s voice. Victor, Stephan’s son, communicates with the AI version via text, experiencing a sense of connection.
As for the future of the AI Stephan, ownership rests with Katrine, who has outlined its fate in a digital testament. While details remain undisclosed, Nielsen mentioned the possibility of passing it on to Victor in Katrine’s will, emphasizing her ownership of the digital avatar.