A family in eastern China’s Shandong province hired artificial intelligence specialists to create a digital replica of their deceased son in order to conceal his death from his elderly mother, according to the South China Morning Post.
The man reportedly died in a traffic accident early last year. His relatives decided not to inform his mother, an 80-year-old woman suffering from heart disease, fearing the news would seriously affect her health.
The grandson contacted an AI specialist in Jiangsu province to create a digital double of his late father. The team used extensive photos, video footage, and voice recordings in the man’s local dialect to build a highly realistic virtual version of him.
The AI-generated likeness reportedly replicates the man’s appearance and even his habitual forward-leaning posture while speaking. The “son” now appears daily on video calls with his mother via a popular messaging app, telling her he is working in another city and unable to return home.
“You should call me more often so that I know whether you live well or not in another city. I am missing you so much. I feel so sorry that I cannot see you in person,” the elderly woman says in one recorded exchange.
The virtual son reassures her that he is working hard and will return once he has earned enough money. She remains unaware of his death.
The case has sparked widespread debate on Chinese social media, with some users describing it as “very touching. The AI son is a gentle lie,” while others warned that revealing the truth later could cause even greater emotional harm.
