‘I miss you’: Mother speaks to AI son regularly, unaware he died last year; artificial intelligence creates digital twin

What Happened

A family in Shandong province, China created an AI digital twin of their deceased son to conceal his death from his elderly mother who has heart disease. Using photos, videos, and voice recordings, the AI replicates his appearance, speech patterns, and mannerisms. The mother, in her 80s, regularly video calls the virtual son, unaware he died in a road accident last year. The family justified the deception as protecting her health. Online reactions remain divided between those viewing it as compassionate and critics questioning ethical implications.

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