Guess Who Brought Back Agatha Christie as an AI Clone?

We've all been there - scrolling through the internet, browsing courses promising to unlock our creative potential. It's a tempting idea: become a skilled writer without having to put in the hard work. But why settle for that when we can learn from the best - even if they're no longer with us?

That's exactly what BBC Maestro offers, with a course taught by comics legend Alan Moore. However, it was their latest endeavour that truly caught our eye: an AI clone of Agatha Christie herself. Yes, you read that right - Agatha Christie, the queen of crime fiction, brought back to life in the most unlikely way.

The blurb is enticing, to say the least: "In a world-first, the bestselling novelist of all time offers you an unparalleled opportunity to learn the secrets behind her writing, in her own words." Made possible today by Agatha's family, an expert team of academics and cutting-edge audio and visual specialists, as if she were teaching you herself.

But how exactly did they manage to bring back the legendary writer? Actress Vivien Keene was hired to perform the role of Christie, and AI was then used to alter her face and voice. It's a remarkable feat of technology, but also raises questions about the ethics of creating an AI clone - especially one that sounds suspiciously like a living, breathing person.

Not everyone is convinced by this latest innovation, however. Malka Older, a humanitarian aid worker and science-fiction writer, was underwhelmed by the experience. She described the avatar as giving "buzzwordy meaningless literal 'maybe both' answers", raising concerns about the quality of the AI's performance.

But what does this say about our relationship with technology? Can we truly replicate the genius of a writer like Agatha Christie, or are we just fooling ourselves? It's a question that Feedback can't help but ask.

A Spurious Correlation Worth Noting

If you're a fan of science and correlation, then this one might interest you. A recent paper titled "Human intelligence forming in the rhythm of solar activity" reveals a surprising connection between high-energy solar proton events and the number of Nobel laureates born in a given year.

The researcher looked specifically at Nobel laureates "in the fields of sciences (including economics) and literature", but we can't help but notice the subtle side-eye inherent in the brackets around "economics". Why not nine months, or five? Could it be that this correlation only appears with a specific hack?

The hypothesis is intriguing: "atmospheric radiation patterns... may act as environmental stressors affecting neural circuit formation during prenatal development." But there's more to explore here - and Feedback wants to know if you've come across any other bizarre correlations.

Nominative Determinism Strikes Again

We love a good case of nominative determinism, where the name seems to fit the subject perfectly. And this week, we have not one, but two examples!

Firstly, consultant urologist Nick Burns-Cox was highlighted by Andy Green - only for us to discover that we'd already featured him in 2019.

But then came Stephen Alexander's mention of the sound engineer for BBC Radio 4's The Briefing Room, David Crackles. And, in a delightful coincidence, Sam Edge had previously pointed out two instances of this very magazine featuring the name Yuvan Aves - who happens to be a naturalist and bird-watcher!

And finally, Amy Marschall writes on Bluesky: "Omg I just saw a billboard that said 'Erectile dysfunction is a growing problem'". Was this on purpose, or did someone genuinely not realise?

Get in Touch

We'd love to hear from you! Whether it's a fascinating discovery, a clever observation, or simply a question about nominative determinism, we want to know.

Send your stories to Feedback by email at feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address, and we'll make sure to get back to you.

This week's and past Feedbacks can be seen on our website. And don't forget to receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox - plus updates on New Scientist events and special offers!