For the past few years, a thriving cottage industry in China has offered families the chance to converse with AI clones of their deceased loved ones — for a monthly fee, of course.
But what if the surviving family members were completely unaware of the fact that they were talking to an AI representation and not their actual loved one?
According to South China Morning PostCiting a report from a Chinese news agency called. lychee newsthe 80-something mother of a man who died in a car accident was unknowingly talking to his AI clone on regular video calls, believing it was actually him.
The woman reportedly has heart disease. Her family, who live in Shandong province, “hoped to hide the news” of their only child’s death, the report said. SCMP.
This is a tragic story of grief in the age of AI, where technology is advancing to replicate the appearance and voice of the dead. At the same time, this ploy raises thorny ethical questions when it comes to caring for the elderly. Should we really deliberately deceive the elderly to protect them from our own emotions?
The woman’s grandson reportedly contacted a businessman at an AI technology company and provided photos, videos and audio recordings of his recently deceased father. AI businessmen joked: lychee news He said his job was to “deceive people’s emotions” and added: “What we do is comfort people who are alive.”
The AI clone informed the woman that her son had moved away and she would not be able to see him in person.
“You should call more often to find out if you are doing well in another city,” the unsuspecting mother told AI. SCMP. “I’m so lonely. I’m so disappointed that I can’t see you in person.”
“Okay, Mom,” the AI replied. “But I’m too busy to talk for too long. You take care of yourself. When I earn enough money, I’ll go home to do my filial duties.”
This story is completely believable, but forgive me for having some skepticism. meanwhile lychee news appears to exist, but it appears to be owned by Jiangsu Broadcasting, China’s third largest television network. We were unable to locate the original story or independently verify Mr. Zhang’s claims.
Unfortunately, netizens were stunned by the story and claimed that the woman’s family went too far.
“This is probably one of the worst uses of AI,” one Reddit user commented.
Another user added: “This is going to hurt this woman more than the truth.”
Learn more about the deceased and AI: People selling AI clones of dead relatives for just $150
