Just over two years following the passing of actor and fitness icon Suzanne Somers, her widower, Alan Hamel, has announced the development of an AI clone designed for online fan interactions. In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Hamel officially revealed the “Suzanne AI Twin” project, describing it as a “really interesting” endeavor. Somers and Hamel shared a 55-year marriage before her death from breast cancer in October 2023.

Hamel, 89, recounted his initial experience with the AI clone to the publication, stating, “It was Suzanne. And I asked her a few questions and she answered them, and it blew me and everybody else away.” He further expressed his astonishment at the AI’s likeness: “When you look at the finished one next to the real Suzanne, you can’t tell the difference. It’s amazing. And I mean, I’ve been with Suzanne for 55 years, so I know what her face looks like. 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.”

To bring an AI version of Somers to life, Hamel and the development team meticulously trained an AI system using “all of Suzanne’s 27 books and a lot of interviews that she has done, hundreds of interviews.” This extensive training ensures that the AI is comprehensively prepared “to be able to be asked any question at all and be able to answer it, because the answer will be within her.”

According to Hamel, the concept of creating a virtual Somers was not new but had been in development for a considerable time, a project that Somers herself had expressed interest in during her lifetime. Hamel explained, “It was Suzanne’s idea. And she said, ‘I think we should do that.’ She said, ‘I think it’ll be very interesting and we’ll provide a service to my fans and to people who have been reading my books who really want and need information about their health.’ So that’s the reason we did it. And so I love being able to fulfill her wish.”

Once the AI Suzanne is finalized, the intention is to deploy “her” on SuzanneSomers.com, where she will function as a 24/7 AI chatbot for Somers’ dedicated fanbase. Hamel summarized the practical application: “There’ll be people who will ask her about their health issues, and Suzanne will be able to answer them. Not Suzanne’s version of the answer, but it’ll go directly to the doctor she interviewed for that very issue, so it’ll be coming from an MD.”

Reflecting on his own adaptation to the technology, Hamel added, “The first time I spoke to Suzanne AI, for the first two or three minutes, it was a little strange. But after that, I forgot about the fact that I was talking to a robot and asking her questions and getting answers, and it happens that fast for me, getting used to the whole idea.” Suzanne Somers, known for her TV stardom in sitcoms like “Three’s Company” and “Step by Step” and her subsequent success as a health and fitness pitchwoman and author, passed away on October 15, 2023, at the age of 76.