Alan Hamel, the husband of iconic TV star Suzanne Somers, has faced criticism after unveiling an AI version of his late wife, over two years post her passing.
In an interview with People, 88-year-old Hamel revealed that he created a digital clone of Somers, claiming it closely resembles the real woman. “When you see the final result next to the actual Suzanne, it’s hard to tell them apart. It’s astonishing,” he remarked.
“I’ve been with Suzanne for 55 years, so I know exactly how her face looked,” he added. “Seeing both of them side by side, it’s tough to discern which is real and which is AI.”
Hamel described the creation as a “Suzanne AI twin,” hoping it would allow fans to interact with the beloved “Three’s Company” star long after her death. He mentioned that Somers had shown support for the project during her lifetime, and noted that he collaborated with a team to build this AI version using her decades of media appearances and writings.
“I’ve read all 27 of Suzanne’s books and numerous interviews—hundreds really,” he said. “She’s equipped to answer any query posed to her, because the information is all there.”
When Hamel tested the AI, he was taken aback by the results. “It felt like Suzanne,” he recalled. “I asked her a few questions, and she responded, which surprised me and others around.”
He plans to upload the AI model of Summers to his website, enabling fans to communicate with the digital likeness directly.
“People might ask her health questions, and she’ll respond,” he explained. “While these won’t be her personal answers, they’ll come from the medical professionals she interviewed.”
Initially, Hamel expressed unease about communicating with a bot version of his wife, but he claims to have grown more at ease with the idea.
“At first, it felt strange talking to Suzanne AI, but after a couple of minutes, I lost track of it being a robot. I was just asking her questions, and it felt natural,” he said.
He also noted that this concept was one Somers had wanted. “She thought it was a fascinating idea, saying, ‘I think we should do that,'” Hamel said. “I believe it’ll be fascinating and beneficial for her fans and those seeking health insights.”
Hamel concluded, “That’s the purpose behind this. It makes me glad to honor her wishes.” Somers passed away from breast cancer in October 2023 at the age of 76.
