Mother Reportedly Doesn’t Know Her Son Died Because She’s Been Talking to an AI Version of Him

A Chinese family reportedly used an AI clone of a son killed in a road accident to keep talking with his elderly mother, who was never told he had died.

The story, reported by local outlets and amplified by the South China Morning Post, drew criticism for using grief tech to deceive a bereaved relative.

The case highlights how AI mourning tools can be turned into instruments of emotional manipulation, especially involving vulnerable older adults.

It has renewed concerns about consent, eldercare ethics, and the potential harms of deepfake voices and AI-generated likenesses.