**BREAKING: Melissa Gilbert Announces "Digital Afterlife" Partnership – 'Little House' Icon to Live On as AI Avatar in Metaverse**
In a move that’s sparking both wonder and controversy, Melissa Gilbert—forever Laura Ingalls Wilder to millions—has unveiled a groundbreaking project that promises to keep her "alive" in the metaverse. Partnering with a leading deep-tech firm, Gilbert, 62, will become one of the first major legacy stars to have her voice, mannerisms, and memories fully uploaded into an interactive AI "companion" that can visit users’ homes via holographic projection or VR.
"I’ve spent decades as a character in other people’s stories," Gilbert said from her tech-forward Los Angeles studio. "Now, I want to be part of your story—forever."
The AI, named "Laurie," will not only answer questions about acting, the ‘Little House’ years, and Gilbert’s political activism, but will also learn from each user, adapting its personality. But ethics watchdogs are already asking: Should a human consciousness be for sale? And when the real Melissa Gilbert ultimately passes, do we pull the plug?
The program launches next month, with a $99/month subscription for unlimited conversations. Critics call it "digital necromancy"; fans are already calling it "timeless."