For the first time ever, a new artificial intelligence (AI) project called Future You allows people to have conversations with a simulated older version of themselves. This project, developed by researchers at MIT Media Lab, creates a virtual 60- to 70-year-old version of the user, complete with a photo avatar. Users can interact with this AI through text conversations, discussing topics such as achieving life goals based on their current circumstances and beliefs.
The project consists of two main components. The first component, called StyleClip, uses age-progression models to predict what a user will look like at age 60 based on a selfie they upload. The second component is a chatbot powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which creates a personalized future memory based on the user’s responses to questions about their life, demographics, and future aspirations.
The goal of Future You is to help users feel more connected to their future selves and make long-term decisions. According to study co-author Hal Hershfield, taking advice from a personalized older self can reduce anxiety and increase motivation. The chatbot’s persona adapts to the user’s responses, offering insights and advice on potential pathways to their desired future.
The project involved 344 English speakers aged 18 to 30, who interacted with their future selves for 10 to 30 minutes. The majority of users reported a decrease in anxiety, an increase in motivation, and a stronger sense of connection with their future selves. This sense of future self-continuity can positively influence decision-making and help users envision their future more clearly.
Future You’s developers took precautions to ensure that users understand the speculative nature of the conversations with their future selves. The system reminds users that the outcomes are based on questionnaire answers and different responses could lead to different futures. By combining AI technology with psychological techniques, Future You aims to provide users with a unique and personalized way to visualize their future selves.
In conclusion, the Future You project offers a novel approach to using AI technology for personal growth and wellbeing. By engaging in conversations with a simulated future self, users can gain valuable insights, reduce anxiety, and feel more connected to their long-term goals. This innovative application of AI and psychology demonstrates the potential for technology to enhance self-reflection and decision-making in a digital age.
