According to Computerworld, Silicon Valley startup Uare.ai just raised $10.3 million in initial funding led by Mayfield and Boldstart Ventures. The company plans to launch its “Individual AI” platform next month, which promises to create digital versions of real people. Users are supposed to share their memories, stories, expertise, and voice data with the system. The resulting AI counterpart allegedly talks like you, makes decisions like you, and according to the company’s questionable claims, even “thinks” like you. This private model supposedly evolves alongside you and acts as a “second brain” for connecting with others through content creation and conversations.
The Torment Nexus Arrives
Here’s the thing: we’re literally building the dystopian futures we used to mock in cyberpunk novels. The term “torment nexus” comes from that famous joke about someone reading a dystopian novel about the “torment nexus” and then building it because they thought the technology was cool. And that’s exactly what’s happening here. Uare.ai’s platform wants to create digital clones of people, which sounds like something straight out of Black Mirror. They’re calling it “Individual AI” like that makes it less creepy.
AI Can’t Think, Stop Saying It Can
Let’s be absolutely clear about something the company gets wrong: AI cannot “think” like you. Full stop. These systems process patterns and data without understanding, self-awareness, or genuine reasoning. They’re fancy pattern matchers, not conscious beings. When companies claim their AI “thinks” like you, they’re either deeply confused about how their own technology works or deliberately misleading people. Probably both. The gap between human cognition and AI processing is enormous, and no amount of training data bridges that fundamental divide.
Why This Matters Beyond the Hype
So what’s actually happening here? You’re essentially creating a behavioral clone trained on your personal data. The system learns how you talk, what decisions you might make in certain situations, and can mimic your communication style. That’s technically impressive, but also deeply concerning. Who controls this digital twin? What happens when it says something you’d never say? And how do you prevent this technology from being used for impersonation or manipulation? These aren’t theoretical questions anymore—they’re becoming immediate practical concerns as companies like Uare.ai push this technology toward reality.
The Business of Digital Clones
Now, $10.3 million is serious money, and having firms like Mayfield and Boldstart involved suggests this isn’t just some fringe idea. They see a market here, probably in content creation, customer service, or even personal assistance. But the business model raises questions too. If you’re paying to maintain your digital twin, what happens when you stop paying? Does your AI clone keep existing? Does it get deleted? Or worse—does it get repurposed? We’re venturing into completely uncharted ethical territory here, and the people building this stuff seem more focused on the technology than the consequences.
