Suzanne Somers died in October 2023 after her breast cancer came back for the third time. She had battled the illness for more than two decades. Her final days were private, and her death came just one day before she turned 77.
Since she passed, her husband Alan Hamel has turned to artificial intelligence to keep her memory alive. Instead of just looking back at her life, Hamel is building a digital version of her. He says this idea started with Suzanne and that she had always wanted to explore technology.
Alan Hamel is creating a more realistic version of his wife’s robot clone
Hamel began the AI project shortly after Suzanne died. He’s now working with experts to create a digital replica that looks and sounds like her. The version includes her voice, her famous hairstyle, and even her mannerisms. It can talk about her life and career and answer questions as if it were her. It can remember moments from Suzanne’s past and talk about them in real time.
He also said the AI version might appear in future promotions for her old beauty line. At 88, Hamel has even talked about using the AI version in new videos, calling it a high-tech tribute. Some parts of the system are still in development, but he plans to make it more lifelike.
Friends of Suzanne Somers have shown concern over his excessive use of AI
While Hamel sees this as a tribute, many people close to Suzanne are not on board. Some of her friends say the idea feels too much like a show and not enough like respect. One friend said they understand he wants to keep her memory alive, but the method is wrong.
Another said it felt more like selling a product than honoring her life; they called it cyber-marketing. There’s more worry now that Hamel might use the AI version in new Three’s Company projects. He’s reportedly talked about using the Suzanne replica alongside a hologram of John Ritter. One insider said he’s basically trying to reboot the dead.