У recent years, artificial intelligence has been repeatedly blamed for deteriorating mental health – particularly in cases where chatbots seemingly encouraged self-harm, leading to lawsuits concerning wrongful death.
As noted by Interesting Engineering, a new, concerning application of AI has emerged – Philip Nitschke, the inventor of a controversial capsule for assisted euthanasia, stated that an AI system will now judge a person’s “mental fitness” regarding their decision to end their life. Essentially, the AI will act as a digital “gatekeeper” to the right to die.
According to Futurism, the 3D-printed capsule Sarco now includes a psychiatric assessment based on AI. This system will determine whether an individual is in a suitable mental state to make a decision about ending their life. If the AI assesses the person as mentally competent, the capsule will activate. The user then has a 24-hour window to utilize the device; if they do not, the process automatically halts and must be restarted.
The Sarco capsule is designed for individuals to pass away without medical intervention. Inside, the user presses a button that initiates the flow of nitrogen into a sealed chamber. The oxygen level rapidly decreases, leading to unconsciousness, among other effects. Nitschke has long claimed that this method offers a “peaceful and autonomous death,” although critics argue that involving AI in such decisions crosses a significant ethical line.
First Real Use of Sarco
The Sarco capsule has sparked controversy since its introduction in 2019, long before the AI assessment was implemented. It was first used in 2024 when a 64-year-old woman from the USA chose to end her life in Switzerland. She was suffering from severe complications related to serious immune system issues. At that time, no AI testing existed, and she underwent a traditional psychiatric evaluation conducted by a Dutch doctor. Only after this assessment did she press the button in the capsule to initiate the nitrogen flow.
It’s worth noting that Switzerland permits the use of Sarco, but the situation did not conclude with the woman’s death. Swiss police arrested Dr. Florian Willett, who was present during the event and supported this method of passing. Authorities accused him of assisting in the woman’s death, suggesting there may have been “external assistance,” which is prohibited by law.
Eventually, Willett was released, but the experience caused him significant psychological trauma – he passed away in Germany last year using a similar capsule. Reports suggest that his decision may have been influenced by his arrest and subsequent detention. Whether he underwent an AI mental state evaluation prior to his death remains unknown.
Algorithm-Driven Future
Despite the backlash, Nitschke appears determined to continue developing this concept. According to the Daily Mail, a new version of Sarco will involve a “Double Dutch” model for couples. In this variant, AI will evaluate the mental states of both partners, allowing them to enter a combined capsule and exit life together.
“This raises questions about the appropriateness of such decisions. In the only confirmed case of Sarco’s use, psychiatric doctors were involved, and these instances remain rare. There currently exists no objective logistical need to replace human assessment with software,” the article states.
Critics emphasize that relying on artificial intelligence in such an irreversible matter risks reducing a deeply personal and complex choice to a mere technical procedure.
