If you’ve recently searched for yourself online, you might have noticed that the experience lacks the thrill it once carried. Although changes in Google’s search capabilities contribute to this sentiment, many individuals are now learning about others through chatbots rather than traditional search methods.
This realization led Thomas Dimson and Joey Flynn to launch a platform called In the Weights. The term “weights” refers to the numerical components that influence the training and output of AI models. Their site aims to evaluate how effectively various AI models can recall someone’s identity without relying on tools like standard web searches.
According to the site, “being in the weights signifies that your significance was acknowledged in the creation of advanced artificial intelligence.”
To accomplish this, In the Weights queries several AI models—including Grok, Gemini, various GPT versions, Claude, and Llama—with questions along the lines of, “Who is
For instance, a tech blogger received a score of 641, placing them in the top 6% of names evaluated. Although they felt pleased with their ranking, they noticed that several colleagues from TechCrunch had even higher scores. The leaderboard is dynamic, with Macaulay Culkin currently leading at a strength score of 988, followed closely by opera icon Luciano Pavarotti.
The results also reveal which AI models provided which answers for any given name, and they point out instances of misinformation—such as GPT-5.4 Mini incorrectly asserting that Anthony Ha could refer to multiple individuals with the initials A.H.A.
When asked about the motivation behind In the Weights, Dimson mentioned in an email that he and Flynn aimed to reignite their creativity after departing from OpenAI, where they initially joined following the acquisition of their design firm, Global Illumination.
He reflected on the fact that “vanity searches on Google are no longer the goal as more traffic shifts to LLMs,” and how many lives are represented as numerical values within AI systems. The concept for the site was further solidified after a playful blog post referencing the nature of AI weights and Terry Bisson’s classic short story “They’re Made Out of Meat.”
Dimson noted that the response has been overwhelmingly positive, stating, “We expected a mild interest but it seems to have resonated with users keen to see if their existence is preserved in superintelligence (the competitive aspect adds to the appeal!).”
While I’m skeptical that being “remembered” by an AI guarantees any form of immortality, I admit that the scores generated are captivating and somewhat jealousy-inducing, especially since they provide an easily comparable metric. An AI critic even remarked that this is akin to asking multiple chatbots to share details about oneself. The site’s charming, retro Nintendo-inspired design also adds to its charm.
Dimson plans to explore deeper questions, such as why different models produce varying results, the types of biases present in certain models, and identifying individuals who deserve a Wikipedia entry but lack one.
