After a man in China was killed in a road accident last year, his family hired an artificial intelligence (AI) technology team to create a digital version of him to comfort his elderly mother.

The AI creation can chat with his octogenarian mother online and help her live with the reality of her only child’s death.

At the beginning of last year, the mother’s only child died in a traffic accident. His family hoped to conceal the news from his mother, who is in her 80s and has heart disease.

The man’s son contacted Zhang, asking to create a digital twin of his father by providing numerous pictures, videos and audio recordings of him speaking in his dialect.

The creation looks exactly like the dead man and even mimics his habit of leaning forward while speaking. The virtual son talks to the mother every day via a video call on a chat app.

The mother often urges the “son” to eat well, wear warm clothes and pay attention to his personal safety when going out.

In reply, the “son” promises he will follow her advice. He adds that he now work in another city to earn money and could not return to accompany her.

“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,” said the mother in one conversation.

The “son” replied: “OK, mum. But 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.”

So far, the mother is not aware that her son is dead.