An incident has come to light from China which is as poignant as it is controversial. Here, a family got a digital replica of their late son made so that their elderly mother would not have to bear the brunt of his passing. It is being told that this matter is from Shandong province. The son died in a road accident last year, but the family decided not to break the sad news to the 80-year-old mother. Since the elderly woman suffers from a heart condition, the family feared that such a shock could have a detrimental effect on her health.
A digital twin created through AI
According to a report by *South China Morning Post*, the family took the help of a team of AI experts led by an expert named Zhang Zhaowei. Based on old photographs, videos and voice recordings, the team created a highly lifelike digital version of the son. This AI avatar not only looks like a real person, but also exactly mimics his manner of speaking, gestures and habits. During conversation, his manner of leaning forward and the characteristic tone of his voice are also repeated exactly as before.
Daily conversation via video call
Now, this digital son regularly interacts with his mother through video calls. The conversation between the two seems so natural that no one has the slightest doubt. Mother often advises her to take care of her diet, wear warm clothes and stay safe during travel. In response, the AI son responds equally warmly, and explains that he is currently working in another city and will return home soon after earning some money.
emotional support
Even today, the mother has not been told about her son’s death. The family believes this to be a “cute lie”—a kind trick that saves them loneliness and sadness. AI experts involved in this work say that their aim is to provide emotional support to people, even if this means using such a unique use of technology.
Debate broke out on social media
Ever since this incident came to light, people’s opinion is divided on social media. Some people have called it a sensitive and positive use of technology, while many others have criticized it, calling it unethical. Critics argue that keeping the truth hidden for so long could potentially cause even greater emotional trauma in the future. On the other hand, some people see it as a discovery that can, to some extent, fill the void left by the departure of loved ones.