The prospect of knowing the exact moment of one’s demise is a topic many would prefer to avoid. However, a recently developed AI death calculator named Life2vec is making headlines for its purported ability to predict an individual’s death date with surprising accuracy. Lead author Sune Lehmann, a professor of network and complex systems at the Technical University of Denmark, sheds light on the fascinating technology and methodology behind this groundbreaking prediction tool.
In a December 2023 study titled “Using the sequence of life-events to predict human lives,” Lehmann and his co-authors introduce the Life2vec algorithm. Drawing inspiration from the technology behind ChatGPT, specifically transformer models, Life2vec analyzes human lives by representing each person as a sequence of events that unfold throughout their existence. Unlike its more versatile counterpart ChatGPT, Life2vec focuses on a meticulous examination of a person’s life details, including income, occupation, place of residence, and medical history.
Lehmann explains that Life2vec leverages the concept that human lives, in a certain sense, share similarities with language. Just as words follow each other in sentences, events follow each other in human lives. This unique approach allows the algorithm to capture the essence of an individual’s journey through life.
According to Lehmann, Life2vec boasts an impressive 78% accuracy in predicting life expectancy. The algorithm uses a comprehensive analysis of a person’s past to calculate potential outcomes. Lehmann notes that Life2vec’s predictive capabilities extend beyond life expectancy, with the model demonstrating the ability to forecast various aspects, including personalities and decisions related to international relocations.
While the accuracy of Life2vec is a testament to the advancements in AI, it also raises ethical considerations. Predicting one’s death date introduces a range of moral dilemmas and questions about the impact such information might have on an individual’s mental and emotional well-being.
As the scientific community continues to explore the boundaries of AI applications, Life2vec stands out as a remarkable example of how technology can provide insights into the complex tapestry of human life. While its predictions may evoke a mix of fascination and trepidation, the ethical implications surrounding the use of such information underscore the need for responsible and thoughtful deployment of AI technologies. Life2vec sparks a conversation not only about the limits of artificial intelligence but also about our collective responsibility in shaping the future of these groundbreaking tools.
