Sarco Pod Creator Unveils AI-Enabled Double Capsule for Couples Seeking Assisted Death
Exactly one year after a controversial assisted-dying device captured worldwide attention, its inventor has revealed plans for a new model specifically designed for couples. The original Sarco pod, a 3D-printed capsule that enables users to trigger a nitrogen release for a peaceful death, gained international notoriety in 2024 when a 64-year-old American woman utilized it in Switzerland.
That particular case prompted an immediate police investigation, with Swiss authorities confiscating the device and detaining witnesses before ultimately ruling out intentional homicide. Now, Philip Nitschke, the Australian physician behind the Sarco, confirms that development is actively progressing on a larger, artificial intelligence-enhanced version intended for two individuals who wish to die together.
A Pod Built for Two – With Synchronized Decision-Making
Nitschke reports that interest in a dual-occupancy Sarco has already emerged from various quarters. In discussions with media outlets, he acknowledged that while the concept won't appeal to everyone, a distinct demand exists among certain couples.
"I'm not suggesting everyone's going to race forward and say: 'Boy, I really want to climb into one of those things,'" Nitschke stated. "But some people do." According to his accounts, couples, including one from Britain, have contacted him expressing a heartfelt desire to "die in each other's arms."
The new design, sometimes informally called the "Double Dutch" Sarco, would be spacious enough to accommodate two people and requires a synchronized choice: both occupants must press their activation buttons simultaneously, or the device will not function. This dual-consent mechanism represents a significant evolution from the single-user model.
How the Original Sarco Pod Functions
The original Sarco capsule operates by flooding its chamber with nitrogen, which displaces oxygen and causes the occupant to lose consciousness within seconds before death follows. Nitschke recalled that the woman who used the device last year pressed the button almost immediately after entering.
"She really wanted to die," he emphasized, noting that she had thoroughly researched the pod beforehand. However, that inaugural use proved legally explosive. Swiss authorities later declared the device incompatible with Swiss law, leading to its seizure. Criminal proceedings were initiated for aiding and abetting suicide, though no formal charges have been filed to date.
Artificial Intelligence and Mental Capacity Assessments
Beyond its increased size, the proposed new Sarco introduces a groundbreaking feature that Nitschke says was incomplete during the device's first deployment: artificial intelligence designed to assess mental capacity.
"One of the parts to the device which hadn't been finished, but is now finished, is the artificial intelligence," he revealed. Nitschke has long argued that decisions around assisted dying should not rest solely with medical professionals. He has questioned whether psychiatrists are truly best positioned to make accurate capacity assessments.
"We're thinking that a piece of software will do the job better than a psychiatrist," he asserted. "You can indeed take the same person to a couple of different psychiatrists and get three different answers about whether or not they have mental capacity."
Instead, he proposes using an AI avatar to conduct evaluations. Nitschke explained how this system would function: "You sit there and talk about the issues that the avatar wants to talk to you about. And the avatar will then decide whether or not it thinks you've got capacity."
If the AI determines the user is of sound mind, the suicide pod would be unlocked for a 24-hour period. Should that window expire without activation, the entire assessment process would need to be repeated. Early versions of this software are already operational according to Nitschke, though they haven't undergone independent validation.
From Euthanasia Laws to Global Controversy
Philip Nitschke, a physician and founder of the euthanasia non-profit Exit International, first became involved in assisted dying during the mid-1990s when Australia's Northern Territory briefly legalized voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill patients.
"I got involved 30-odd years ago when the world's first law came in," he recalled. "I thought it was a good idea." In 1996, he became the first doctor to legally administer a voluntary lethal injection, using a self-built machine that allowed Bob Dent, a man dying of prostate cancer, to activate the drugs himself.
Over time, his philosophical position expanded beyond physician-assisted dying. He has since argued that "the end of one's life by oneself is a human right," regardless of illness or medical oversight. The Sarco pod itself emerged from his work with individuals in jurisdictions where assisted dying remains illegal.
The renewed attention surrounding the double pod has triggered widespread outrage across social media platforms. Users have reacted strongly to news of the dual-occupancy device and its AI-based approval system.
As Swiss prosecutors continue reviewing the original Sarco case, Nitschke confirms that construction of the new version is already underway, ensuring that complex debates about autonomy, ethics, and technological intervention at life's end remain far from resolved.
