{"id":10333,"date":"2026-04-18T13:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/mother-son-died-ai-clone\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T13:45:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T13:45:00","slug":"mother-son-died-ai-clone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musictechohio.online\/site\/mother-son-died-ai-clone\/","title":{"rendered":"Mother Reportedly Doesn\u2019t Know Her Son Died Because She\u2019s Been Talking to an AI Version of Him"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For years now, a thriving cottage industry<\/a> in China has been offering families the opportunity to speak to an AI clone of their deceased loved ones \u2014 for a monthly fee, of course. <\/p>\n

But what if the surviving member of the family isn\u2019t clued in to the fact that they\u2019re speaking with an AI representation, rather than their actual loved one?<\/p>\n

According to the South China Morning Post<\/em><\/a>, which quotes reporting from a Chinese news outlet called Litchi News<\/em>, the octogenarian mother of a man who was killed in a road accident has been unknowingly talking to his AI clone via regular video calls, thinking it\u2019s actually him.<\/p>\n

The woman is reportedly suffering from heart disease. Her family, who resides in Shandong province, \u201choped to conceal the news\u201d of her only child\u2019s death, per the SCMP<\/em>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a tragic story of grief in the age of AI, when the tech is making inroads toward replicating the appearance and voice of the dead. At the same time, the ruse raises thorny ethical questions when it comes to eldercare. Should we really intentionally deceive seniors to protect them from their own emotions?<\/p>\n

The woman\u2019s grandson reportedly reached out to an AI tech businessman, providing him with pictures, videos, and audio recordings of his recently deceased father. For his part, the AI businessmen joked to Litchi News<\/em> that he\u2019s in the business of \u201cdeceiving people\u2019s emotions,\u201d also saying that \u201cwhat we do is to comfort the living.\u201d <\/p>\n

The AI clone informed the woman that her son had moved and was unable to meet her in the flesh.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should call me more often so that I know whether you live well or not in another city,\u201d the unsuspecting mother told the AI, as quoted by the SCMP<\/em>. \u201cI am missing you so much. I feel so sorry that I cannot see you in person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, mum,\u201d the AI replied. \u201cBut I am too busy. I cannot talk to you for a long time. You take care of yourself. When I have made enough money, I will return home to pay my filial piety to you.\u201d <\/p>\n

Though the story is perfectly believable, forgive us for harboring some degree of skepticism. While Litchi News<\/em> does appear to exist \u2014 it seems to be owned by the Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation<\/a>, China\u2019s third largest TV network \u2014 we were unable to locate the original story or independently verify Zhang\u2019s claims.<\/p>\n

Regardles, netizens were appalled by the story, arguing that the woman\u2019s family had gone too far.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of the worst likely uses of AI,\u201d one Reddit user commented<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to harm this woman more than the truth,\u201d another user added<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More on the deceased and AI:<\/strong> People Are Selling AI Clones of Dead Relatives for Just $150<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The post Mother Reportedly Doesn\u2019t Know Her Son Died Because She\u2019s Been Talking to an AI Version of Him<\/a> appeared first on Futurism<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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