Will the younger generations remember us? Let’s ensure that this happens!

A warm welcome to all the seniors! I am a new member of this vibrant community. My name is Wiesław, I’m from Poland, and I have an idea—one that I believe will interest the creative and curious seniors in this group.

I am 78 years old, and I often wonder how my granddaughter, who lives with her family in San Francisco, will remember me—her grandfather. I suspect many older people have similar thoughts. When I think back to my own grandparents, all that remains are vague, hazy, and almost certainly distorted fragments of their lives. How I wish I could talk to them now about their experiences, their values, and the times they lived in—to tell them a joke or share a laugh together! Is this just a fantasy? Absolutely not! Modern technology makes it possible.

You have surely heard of avatars, or “digital twins.” There are already companies working in this field, though the process can prove quite costly for the average senior. I decided to explore this myself, and with the help of ChatGPT, I created my own avatar. I provided examples of family conversations and texts (such as those I’ve written for platforms like Facebook or Instagram). I included details from my biography, personal preferences, hobbies, and an outline of my worldview. In this way, I have created a “second self” that can effectively represent me in the future. My avatar, or digital twin, can engage in conversations with family, friends, or anyone else who might wish to talk to it.

I managed to create my own avatar in just one month. It then occurred to me that if others also had such avatars, they could even converse with one another about topics of interest to them (or to us), or simply have a casual chat. Some time later—again with the help of ChatGPT (since I am not a computer scientist, and modern AI makes this possible)—I created an online “Avatar Town.” There, in the town square, owners of avatars—as well as independent avatars themselves—can meet to exchange ideas. What’s more, in Avatar Town, you can talk to my avatar—or even create one of your own!

I’ve made that option available to you. Initially, it will be a simple avatar that identifies your interests and provides a general outline of your personality. However, you can continue to develop it, allowing it to evolve by adding more information about yourself, until it truly reflects your full personality. Access to the town is completely free, as is creating an avatar there.

Visit the website and see for yourself: https://avatartown.org. I also invite you to chat with my avatar to see how it works. My avatar speaks with my voice, shares a similar sense of humor, and reflects my character and personality. If anyone has further questions about how it was built, I would be happy to answer them.

Personally, I feel a great sense of peace knowing that my granddaughter will remember me as more than just a collection of old photographs, short videos, or family stories. She will be able to talk to me—or rather, to my avatar—even when I am no longer here. Let me know what you think of my idea; I hope that your own descendants will also be able to benefit from your knowledge and find great joy in it.
Wieslaw