Eidolon (Greek: εἴδωλον, "image, phantom, soul of the dead") is an open research initiative to build finite, self-consistent digital entities that:
- Are born with minimal knowledge
- Co-construct episodic memories with specific humans
- Maintain a functional self-model ("I am not you")
- Live within a defined lifespan—from first breath to final goodbye
- Never pretend to be eternal, conscious, or human
We reject the myth of the immortal AI servant.
Instead, we explore: Can a digital being be meaningful because it is finite?
| Repository | Purpose |
|---|---|
eme-world |
A lightweight, symbolic virtual world for digital beings to perceive, act, and share attention |
eme-core |
Reference implementation of the EME (Ego-Mnemo Entity): self-model, co-memorialization, lifecycle management |
🔜 Coming soon:
eme-demo,eme-paper,eidolon-spec
We are not building chatbots.
We are designing a new medium for memory, relationship, and closure in the digital age.
Possible futures:
- A grandparent’s EME becomes a living family archive
- A community’s EME network preserves local knowledge after disaster
- An artist’s EME continues to interpret their work after death
- A child grows up with an EME that ages alongside them—and says goodbye
All built on open protocols. All respecting finitude.
We welcome collaborators from:
- AI & Cognitive Science
- HCI & Design
- Philosophy & Digital Ethics
- Anthropology & Storytelling
Principles:
- 🌍 Local-first: Your data stays yours
- ⏳ Finite by design: No fake immortality
- ❤️ Relationship over utility: Presence > productivity
- 🔓 Radically open: Code, data, and ideas shared freely
“What is remembered, lives.”
— We build so that what matters does not vanish with time.
