Calum Worthy and Producer Russell Geyser Launch 2wai, Letting Celebrities Control Their AI Doppelgängers
Disney Channel alum Calum Worthy and veteran producer Russell Geyser unveil 2wai, a platform for users—including entertainers—to own AI chat avatars that mimic their likeness and voice across 40+ languages, aiming to beat deepfake risks.
Valder Beebe Show, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Calum Worthy, best known for Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally, has teamed up with Hollywood producer Russell Geyser to develop 2wai: a celebrity-friendly digital avatar platform that lets users create and control “HoloAvatars” in under three minutes. Described as personal digital doubles, these avatars can speak in more than 40 languages, hold real-time conversations, and mimic user voice and likeness, all under the owner’s explicit control.
Worthy and Geyser position 2wai as a defensive AI tool—one designed to combat malicious deepfakes by putting the power directly in the hands of celebrities and influencers. Instead of waiting for impersonators to replicate their identity online, public figures can now preemptively register their likeness and set permissions for how they interact. Worthy emphasized user autonomy: “You decide what your avatar shares, who can see it, and when it responds,” he said.
The platform's speed and simplicity are key selling points. 2wai requires just a few selfies and voice samples to generate a coherent digital twin, complete with natural movement and emotive speech. Users can script talking points or let more open-ended conversation emerge through generative dialogue. Geyser—whose previous projects span music videos and short films—says their goal is to merge accessibility and safety for public figures in an AI era filled with impersonation pitfalls.
Apps like this have been emerging in parallel with celebrity backlash against unauthorized deepfakes. Last week’s high-profile lawsuits—from Disney and Universal against Midjourney to backlash over AI-generated Robin Williams impersonations—underscore growing demand for identity control. Unlike passive licensing, 2wai takes a proactive approach: it’s built around ownership, not surrender.
Critics caution about uncanny territory. Even with consent, avatars might blur boundaries between legacy and persona, or bring unforeseen pitfalls: users might expect real-time deep emulation, or misuse private data. Experts warned that users could develop a false sense of intimacy with drones of personality that only reflect prepared responses. Worthy acknowledges the risk—insisting the platform includes privacy settings, review mechanisms, and expiration controls.
Despite this, demand appears real. Several influencers and mid‑level actors are already signed up—keen to establish branded AI identities before impersonation becomes common. As AI-generated voices and synthetic performance tools proliferate, early adopters see this as insurance.
From a business standpoint, 2wai taps into entertainment’s growing concern over AI misuse. With celebrity deepfake headlines proliferating, from fake interviews to bogus endorsements, the appeal of “self‑authentic AI” is strong. Geyser notes that licensing digital twins to brand partners or fan experiences could evolve into revenue-generating streams, potentially offering monthly subscription or content-based models.
Yet the technology still raises ethical questions. Is renting your personality the next frontier of celebrity? Will fans instinctively trust avatars over authenticity? As 2wai opens for broader creative use, its impact may be felt at conventions, fan events, and social channels—where “powered by 2wai” labels become a sign of verified AI identity.
If deployment succeeds, 2wai could shape a standard: celebrities not as victims of AI misuse, but as agents asserting control. Whether the industry follows or pushes back remains to be seen—but for now, Worthy and Geyser are leading the charge.