AI to judge mental fitness in next-gen suicide pod
20 Jan 2026

Philip Nitschke, the inventor of a controversial suicide pod, is now integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into his device.

The Sarco pod, named after the ancient sarcophagus, was first developed in 2019 and has been promoted by pro-assisted dying group The Last Resort.

In 2024, it was used to assist a 64-year-old woman's suicide in Switzerland.

How the Sarco pod works
Mechanism

The 3D-printed Sarco pod is activated by a button press from the person wishing to end their life.

The action fills the sealed, futuristic-looking coffin with nitrogen, leading to unconsciousness and a "peaceful" death within minutes.

Despite its design for assisted dying, only one real-world use case has been recorded so far—the aforementioned case in Switzerland.

Legal challenges and AI's role in mental capacity assessment
Controversy

While assisted dying is technically legal in Switzerland, it comes with conditions.

The person seeking suicide must be mentally capable of making the decision and must carry out the act themselves.

This has led to legal complications such as the arrest of Florian Willet, then co-president of Last Resort, on suspicion of aiding and abetting a suicide after the woman's death.

AI's potential in determining mental capacity
Innovation

To address these legal complications, Nitschke is now integrating AI into the Sarco pod.

The tech will be used to conduct a psychiatric "test" to determine if the person is mentally capable of making this decision.

If they pass the AI's judgment, it activates the "power to switch on the Sarco."

This new feature wasn't working during its first real-world use case in Switzerland.

AI's role in the "Double Dutch" version of Sarco pod
Advancement

Nitschke is also working on a "Double Dutch" version of the Sarco pod that would allow couples to die together.

In this model, an AI-administered test will be conducted online with an avatar. If they pass this test, the avatar confirms their mental capacity and powers on the Sarco for 24 hours.

During this time, a person or couple can enter and press the button to end it all.

Please seek help if you're having suicidal thoughts
Mental health

If you or anyone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts, you can reach out to AASRA for suicide prevention counseling. Its number is 022-27546669 (24 hours).

You can also dial Roshni NGO at +914066202000 or COOJ at +91-83222-52525.

Sneha India Foundation, which works 24x7, can be contacted at +91-44246-40050, while Vandrevala Foundation's helpline number is +91-99996-66555 (call and WhatsApp).