An artificial intelligence replica of the late “Three’s Company” actress was recently seen interacting with her husband, Alan Hamel, almost two years after her shocking death in October 2023.
“Meeting you was like a breath of fresh air,” the replica told Hamel, 88, in a video of a public demonstration on Monday.
Hamel confirmed to The Post that he commissioned the “AI twin.” A few days before he was set to speak at an AI conference in Laguna Beach, California, last week, he told the CEO of AI company Hollo, Rex Wong, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could do something with Suzanne?”
“It’s kind of late to start,” he recalled Wong telling him. But after talking to robotics company Realbotix Corp, Wong said they could make an AI twin of the actress.
“So what they did, is they captured her voice perfectly, and I was able to ask it a few questions,” Hamel said.
The replica can reportedly recall events from Somers’ more than 50-year acting career, as well as her 46-year marriage to Hamel.
The actress’ robot — which included Somers’ signature blond hair, looks, and unique speech and voice patterns — was able to interact with Hamel using footage and recordings taken throughout the “American Graffiti” actress’ nearly 77-year life.
The idea for a robot replica of Somers “absolutely did come from her,” Hamel explained. “She may have known her life was going to be shortened [after a lifelong battle with cancer].”
Hollo partnered with robotics company Realbotix to make the robot in just a few days. “We put that together pretty quickly,” Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel told The Post.
Of seeing Hamel interact with the “twin,” Kiguel said, “It was it was quite touching.”
The company also confirmed the robot was Hamel’s idea.
Hamel also revealed to The Post that he has a “long-range plan” for Somers’ AI replica. After the demonstration last week, he told the CEO of Hollo that once they “have perfected the Suzanne AI twin,” he wants to “take it to the distributor of ‘Three’s Company’ and suggest we do some additional episodes.” What’s more, he wants to go to the John Ritter estate to get a John Ritter AI twin for more “Three’s Company.”
“I think she would smile a lot and be really happy about it,” Hamel said of the AI twin. “She would endorse it. I’m happy about it. My family is happy about it.
“One of these days the world will see Suzanne Somers again,” he added.
“Alan Hamel was my wonderful husband of 55 years,” Somers’ “digital twin” said during the exhibition this month. “He’s my partner in everything from life to love and we’ve shared so many beautiful memories together.”
When asked to remember a specific memory of her time with her husband, the Somers replica shared a story about a cooking segment the pair once filmed together.
“One of my favorites is when Alan and I were filming a cooking segment together, a long time ago,” the replica responded.
“We had a little mishap with a blender,” it continued. “Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned and we ended up wearing more of the smoothie than we actually made.
“We laughed so hard and it became a running joke in our house,” the replica added. “It’s those light-hearted moments that really bring us closer together.”
Somers was first diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2000. Hamel told Page Six in July 2023 that her cancer returned. She passed away on Oct. 15, 2023 — just one day before her 77th birthday.
“Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of October 15th. She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years,” the “Step by Step” actress’ publicist, R. Couri Hay, announced at the time.
