AI Death Calculator Warns of Fraudulent Websites Amid Privacy Concerns

US and Danish scientists have developed an AI-powered death calculator called Life2vec that can predict a person's life expectancy with 78% accuracy. The tool uses deep learning models and data on factors such as health, education, occupation, income, and working hours to make survival predictions.

However, the researchers behind Life2vec have issued a warning about fraudulent websites and social media accounts that are attempting to capitalize on the tool by stealing personal data and spreading malware. These copycat websites claim to offer similar services or be affiliated with Life2vec, but the creators have stated that they are not associated with any of these sites.

Why this matters: The development of AI tools that can predict sensitive information like life expectancy raises important ethical questions about data privacy and responsible use of technology. The emergence of fraudulent websites exploiting such tools underscores the need for public awareness and caution when sharing personal data online.

Life2vec is currently not available to the public due to privacy concerns. The dataset and model are securely stored and cannot be accessed online. "The Life2vec tool is currently private and not publicly available due to privacy concerns, and the creators have stated that they are not affiliated with any of the copycat websites or accounts," the researchers stated.

The scientists tested Life2vec's algorithm on data from six million Danish individuals between 2008 and 2020. The AI was able to correctly predict who had passed away by 2020 over three-quarters of the time. However, the study participants were not informed about their individual death predictions, as the researchers felt that would be "very irresponsible."

While the technology demonstrates the potential of AI to predict health outcomes and identify risk factors for early mortality, the researchers emphasize that their goal is not to satisfy morbid curiosities but to enable personalized interventions for at-risk individuals. They also stress the importance of addressing the ethical implications and privacy risks associated with such sensitive predictive tools.

Key Takeaways

• US-Danish scientists developed AI 'death calculator' with 78% accuracy.
• Tool uses data on health, education, income to predict life expectancy.
• Creators warn of fraudulent websites exploiting the tool for data theft.
• Life2vec tool is not publicly available due to privacy concerns.
• Researchers emphasize ethical implications and risks of such predictive AI.