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With over 125,000 downloads since its launch in July 2023, Death Clock intrigues as much as it divides. Available for free on Android and iOS, it also offers paid features that cost up to $100, without always clearly explaining their benefits. This ambiguity has not stopped the app from winning over users, who give it an average rating of 4.6 stars.
The concept is based on the analysis of personal data: eating habits, stress level, physical activity, and sleep quality. This information feeds an AI model trained on 1,200 studies about life expectancy, involving 53 million participants. The stated goal? To motivate users to adopt healthier lifestyles to extend their lives.
On its download page, Death Clock highlights its "scientific backing." However, some experts point out the limitations of such a tool. The app does not take into account key factors such as genetics, mental health, or the unpredictability of daily life, like accidents.
Bret Franson, creator of Death Clock, defends his project by emphasizing the importance of making individuals more aware of their mortality. According to him, this awareness can transform existential anxieties into concrete actions to live better and longer.
However, this initiative raises ethical concerns. Some see it as an opportunity for insurers and governments to better plan pensions or adjust life insurance premiums. Others denounce it as a mercantile exploitation of humanity's deepest fears.
In the background, Death Clock highlights a worrying trend: the commercialization of intimacy through artificial intelligence. The quest to control the unknown becomes a monetizable product, at the risk of dehumanizing the very issues it claims to address.
For now, Death Clock reflects the hopes and pitfalls of modern technology. While it invites thought, it also raises questions about the place we want to grant artificial intelligence in our lives.