An AI system called Future You, developed by researchers from MIT, allows people to talk with an older version of themselves.
As part of an attempt to reduce anxiety and help young people make better choices, Future You offers an AI-generated version of yourself to talk to. It comes in the form of a text-based conversation of a potential future simulation and hopes to improve young people’s sense of future self-continuity.
Having a stronger connection with your future self is thought to improve how people make long-term decisions, such as contributing to financial savings or focusing on academics.
How does Future You work?
The large language model pulls on information provided by the user to create a virtual version of them at the age of 60. Users begin by answering questions about their current lives to help build out the personality of Future You, including discussing things that are important to them and their goals for the future.
The AI system uses this data to create what the MIT researchers call ‘future self memories,’ creating a backstory that gets put to use in later interactions. From there, the user can ask questions about what the future could hold, as well as request advice or insights on potential paths that could be taken.
Initial studies showed that interacting with Future You for about half an hour led to decreased anxiety and a stronger sense of connection with the future version of themselves.
“We don’t have a real time machine yet, but AI can be a type of virtual time machine,” said Pat Pataranutaporn, a recent Media Lab doctoral graduate and co-lead author of a paper on Future You. “We can use this simulation to help people think more about the consequences of the choices they are making today.” says
To help people visualize their future selves more clearly, the system also generates an age-progressed photo of them that they can see. The chatbot is also designed to provide authentic answers using phrases like “when I was your age,” to make the exchange feel more like a real conversation.
The researchers haven’t stopped tweaking Future You, with plans outlined to establish context and prepare users for more in-depth conversations with the future version of themself.
“We want to guide the user to talk about certain topics, rather than asking their future selves who the next president will be,” Pataranutaporn said.
Safeguards will also be added to prevent misuse of the system, wanting to focus on fostering positive connections and accessing advice, rather than getting used by companies to create future versions of customers, for example.
“We don’t want people to become dependent on this tool,” said fellow senior author Pattie Maes. “Rather, we hope it is a meaningful experience that helps them see themselves and the world differently, and helps with self-development.”
This is one of many advances from MIT researchers, just a few months after succeeding in a fusion energy breakthrough.
Featured image: Generated with Midjourney
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