Who among us doesn’t fondly remember hearing Walter Mercado bestow his “mucho, mucho amor” (much, much love)? The charismatic Puerto Rican astrologer, artist, dancer, and media sensation, who left a void when he passed away on November 2, 2019, is making a digital comeback as an avatar, courtesy of artificial intelligence.
Now, his devoted fans can once again receive personalized messages from Walter Mercado on the Cameo platform, complete with his distinctive voice, his iconic appearance, and his extensive collection of ornate capes (he famously owned over 1,000 of them) that will change with the seasons.
“My uncle Walter always had a way of making you feel like, when you were talking to him, you were the most important person in the universe,” shared his nephew, Dr. Miguel Benet, in a news interview.
Dr. Benet, who works in the medical field, has seen the leaps and bounds made by artificial intelligence in his own profession and saw an opportunity to use it to uplift people’s spirits.
He noted, “Walter had a unique ability to truly listen and understand what someone needed, offering them words of support and empowerment. He made people believe in their own ability to shape their destinies.”
The launch of Mercado’s avatar coincided with November 2, a date that holds dual significance—it marks the anniversary of his passing and the Day of the Dead, a special occasion to celebrate life and honor loved ones, as emphasized in the press statement.
For those who cherished Mercado’s wisdom and predictions, there’s now a way to receive messages from him in both English and Spanish on Cameo. Cameo is a platform that connects millions of fans with celebrities and pop culture figures who provide personalized video messages for a fee.
Explaining the process, Benet stated, “Fans provide their personal information, which Walter’s team then uses to create the individual avatar. Once it’s ready, the avatar is sent directly to the recipient’s cell phone.”
These personalized messages come at a cost of $99, and Benet hopes that his followers will consider gifting them to friends and loved ones.
To craft these heartfelt messages, DeepReel AI taps into the vast archive of Mercado’s material, collected electronically over the years. Additionally, Mercado’s avatar is set to provide daily general horoscopes on the astrologer’s social media channels, starting from November 6.
Benet stressed, “Initially, our aim is to provide uplifting messages, and in the future, we plan to include horoscopes, although that will require more work.”
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The Benet family, including Aida, Walter’s eldest niece, along with Dannette, Betty, and Ivonne Benet Mercado, have diligently preserved Walter Mercado’s legacy by continuing his work of writing horoscopes for various media outlets.
They’ve also launched various projects to keep his name alive, including the sale of T-shirts bearing his signature catchphrase, “Mucho, mucho amor,” which were available in stores such as Old Navy in 2021. Following his passing, Mercado was even part of a digital campaign to encourage Latino communities to vote.
His impact extends beyond his family, as artists like Bad Bunny have paid tribute to him in their work, keeping the memory of Walter Mercado vibrant and cherished.
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