# Future You: A Conversation with an AI-Generated Future Self Reduces Anxiety, Negative Emotions, and Increases Future Self-Continuity

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.12514 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.12514/

## Key facts

- Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 7 of its 53 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 21 May 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [StyleCLIP: Text-Driven Manipulation of StyleGAN Imagery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.17249/) (2021)
- [AD-NeRF: Audio Driven Neural Radiance Fields for Talking Head Synthesis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.11078/) (2021)
- [Few-Shot Adversarial Learning of Realistic Neural Talking Head Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1905.08233/) (2019)
- [Depth-Aware Generative Adversarial Network for Talking Head Video Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.06605/) (2022)
- [StyleHEAT: One-Shot High-Resolution Editable Talking Face Generation via Pre-trained StyleGAN](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.04036/) (2022)
- [Semantic-Aware Implicit Neural Audio-Driven Video Portrait Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.07786/) (2022)
- [DFA-NeRF: Personalized Talking Head Generation via Disentangled Face Attributes Neural Rendering](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.00791/) (2022)

## Built on by (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [AI persuading AI vs AI persuading Humans: LLMs' Differential Effectiveness in Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.02067/) (2025)
- [Detecting and Preventing Harmful Behaviors in AI Companions: Development and Evaluation of the SHIELD Supervisory System](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.15891/) (2025)
- [Future You: Designing and Evaluating Multimodal AI-generated Digital Twins for Strengthening Future Self-Continuity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.06106/) (2025)
- [Vidmento: Creating Video Stories Through Context-Aware Expansion With Generative Video](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.22013/) (2026)
- [Resonance: Drawing from Memories to Imagine Positive Futures through AI-Augmented Journaling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.24145/) (2025)
- [CareerPooler: AI-Powered Metaphorical Pool Simulation Improves Experience and Outcomes in Career Exploration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.11461/) (2025)
- [Simulating Life Paths with Digital Twins: AI-Generated Future Selves Influence Decision-Making and Expand Human Choice](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.05397/) (2025)
- [Toward Natural and Companionable Virtual Agents via Cross-Temporal Emotional Modeling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.15812/) (2026)
- [Understanding helpfulness and harmless tension in reward models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.13209/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We introduce "Future You," an interactive, brief, single-session, digital chat intervention designed to improve future self-continuity--the degree of connection an individual feels with a temporally distant future self--a characteristic that is positively related to mental health and wellbeing. Our system allows users to chat with a relatable yet AI-powered virtual version of their future selves that is tuned to their future goals and personal qualities. To make the conversation realistic, the system generates a "synthetic memory"--a unique backstory for each user--that creates a throughline between the user's present age (between 18-30) and their life at age 60. The "Future You" character also adopts the persona of an age-progressed image of the user's present self. After a brief interaction with the "Future You" character, users reported decreased anxiety, and increased future self-continuity. This is the first study successfully demonstrating the use of personalized AI-generated characters to improve users' future self-continuity and wellbeing.