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An AI-powered app called 'Death Clock', claiming to predict a user’s date of death based on their personal health data, has grown in popularity among fitness enthusiasts since its launch in July, reports bdnews24.com.
While its predictions, accompanied by a 'fond farewell' death-day card featuring the Grim Reaper may seem a little unsettling, the app also offers tips to extend the user's lifespan, helping them make healthier lifestyle choices.
The concept isn’t entirely new -- back in 2006, tech site TechCrunch reported on a similar iPod app -- but the creators of Death Clock say that their app is far more advanced, trained on over 1,200 longevity studies.
They claim it provides actionable insights to help users make significant lifestyle improvements, TechCrunch reports.
It starts by asking users for basic details such as age, gender, and ethnicity. It then delves deeper with questions about family history, mental health, and overall lifestyle.
After analysing the input, the app makes a prediction on the user's lifespan.
For an annual subscription fee of $40, the Death Clock app provides personalised habit-improvement recommendations and a countdown timer to the estimated time of death.
The app’s death prediction is also designed to be shareable online, adding a social element to its use.
Despite its novelty, the app has practical implications. Financial planner Ryan Jabrowski told Bloomberg, “A huge concern for elderly people, our retirees, is outliving their money,” so accurate mortality estimates could help."