The Man, The Myth, and The Machine Multiplicity: The Story of Mitch Alecia and His Digital Souls

By Cecilia Tham and Annie Sherer

Mitch Alecia greets me in his Santa Monica home, ironically bare given the obvious complication of his life. My eyes are met with a light beige color on the walls that complement Mitch’s serene but strong presence. On it are small pieces of artwork, so detailed and intricate that I can’t make them out from where we stand in the doorway. We head towards the center of the room, where a dark blue couch awaits us. As we walk, I can see the quick metal movements of a robot in the kitchen, whipping up something for lunch. I look over curiously, and Mitch explains “That’s my culinary-twin. He’s an excellent chef, and makes a mean roast tomeato sandwich. You have to try it.”

Mitch has lived his whole life under public scrutiny, so his calm demeanor is welcomed, but surprising. He has been the guinea pig for digital twin technology for a decade. He’s been poked and prodded by people trying to unveil the mystery behind the new technology, but truth be told, Mitch is still trying to solve this mystery himself.

He explains it like this: “Imagine having a digital version of yourself that hones in on one part of your personality, and expands on it and masters it. Say you have a creative side, and you love photography. You might have a digital twin that is embedded in your glasses that captures moments for you, and then edits and perfects the photos too. Or, say you’re more of a liberal arts person by nature, but you want to understand new technologies. You could have a tech genius twin that is an expert in all things technology, keeps you up to date with the latest trends and knows how to fix your broken computer. It’s mind-blowing, really.”

When Mitch was approached with the opportunity to test the digital twin technology in 2032, he was eager to give it a shot. “Of course, I had no idea what would come of it. That was the best part. I had a chance to create something new in the world, something that could change lives. I didn’t know what consequences it would bring, but I felt ready to take anything on.” 10 years later, Mitch doesn’t have many bad things to say about his life that’s been infused with digital twin technology. But now in his twilight years he isn’t certain of what to do next. “I’m struggling, really, I don’t know what is the right path to take.” Mitch explains that there are rising complications that are coming along with the guinea pig role.

Mitch is now 72 years old. He’s accumulated an impressive ten digital twins and fathered four children. “My kids are my life,” he responds when asked what his highest achievement is, “I would be nothing without them.” This statement intrigued me, considering what else he actually is. Besides being a father, Mitch is an accomplished CEO of a Fortune 500 company, an esteemed professor at Oxford University, a world-traveled adventurer, and a brilliant artist. The artist twin, Calvin, as he calls himself, is of particular note in light of recent times. “The artist twin must’ve been… hm… ‘35? Yeah, that’s right. Calvin was integrated into my system in 2035. What a year that was. Inspiration seemed to sing from every corner of the world. All I did was paint. As analog as it sounds now, back then, we actually painted with physical materials.” Mitch looks around the room, fondly remembering when they were nearly merged into one. Both so immersed in the world as they saw it, colorful and alive.

The times where Mitch and his artist twin were nearly one are past them both, though. Mitch’s artist twin has garnered worldwide attention for his campaign “LiberTwin,” as he rallies support for his fight for autonomy. “I feel for Calvin. I really do. But what should I tell my kids? To them, my artist twin is still me. And if he’s independent from me he’s no longer their father.” It leads Mitch to think about the other twins, and their independence. “There’s so many possibilities here. I could shut them all off, I could release them all into their own digital world, or I could pass them down to my children to have a piece of me for when I’m gone. But it seems like there’s no right answer.”

Calvin has publicly stated his distaste for the subordinate status of digital twins in current society. He’s a part of Mitch, but he’s able to use his own creativity to make art that he can sell and earn an income from. Here is where the lines of autonomy are blurred. What makes something an autonomous being deserving of equal human rights? That they can think for themselves? That they can earn money and sustain themselves? That they can reproduce? It is a difficult question that the Supreme Court of the Divided States of America will answer in the coming year.

But when talking about the challenges that come with having digital twins, Mitch is quick to defend the merits of their work. “Don’t get me wrong, each of my ten digital souls have been instrumental in creating this beautiful life that I have lived. I’ve enjoyed watching each of them flourish in order to help me be successful.” He tells me about the ambition and charisma his CEO twin has, and how he wasn’t born with such gall. “He can own any conversation he’s a part of. It’s amazing.” And then about his social-butterfly twin “I could never be so charming or likable without my twin’s help. I am eternally grateful. As the world moved into a more virtual realm, I’m able to give into my biological hermit personality, and let the digital side of me flourish and socialize.”

So, if given the chance, would he do it all over again? “Absolutely. It’s been the journey of a lifetime, and I’ve been so fortunate to have the opportunity to pave the way for the future of humanity.”