Researchers in Denmark are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and data from millions of individuals to forecast the stages of a person's life, from birth to death. The initiative, known as life2vec, aims to shed light on both the capabilities and potential risks associated with this technology. Through deep-learning programs, the creators seek to unveil patterns and connections that could predict various health or social milestones throughout a person's life.

Sune Lehmann, a professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and one of the authors of the study published in the journal Nature Computational Science, explained that life2vec offers a broad framework for making predictions about human lives. Lehmann highlighted the diverse range of predictions possible, from health outcomes like fertility and obesity to financial success. The algorithm, akin to ChatGPT but focused on life variables such as education, social benefits, and work schedules, holds vast potential for understanding and predicting human life trajectories.

Despite the promise of life2vec, concerns have arisen regarding its potential misuse, with some dubbing it a "death calculator." Fake websites have cropped up offering life expectancy forecasts based on the AI system, often soliciting personal data in return. However, the researchers emphasize that the program remains confidential and inaccessible to the public or broader scientific community at present. Based on anonymized data from around six million Danes provided by Statistics Denmark, life outcomes can be predicted with remarkable accuracy, reaching 78% for mortality and 73% for relocation predictions. While the algorithm shows promise, its creators stress that it is still in the research phase and not yet suitable for widespread use.