BEIJING (Daily Point) — Following the unexpected death of their sole child, Wu and his wife turned to AI to construct a ‘digital replica’ of their late son, Xuanmo.

The couple faced profound sorrow when 22-year-old Xuanmo succumbed to a stroke while pursuing studies at Exeter University in Britain last year. Xuanmo, an accounting and finance student and a passionate sports enthusiast, had also been a posthumous organ donor, leading a diverse and fulfilling life.

To recreate their son digitally, Wu invested thousands of dollars in cloning Xuanmo’s face and voice using collected photos, videos, and recordings. His objective is to develop an avatar that accurately mimics their son’s thoughts and speech.

In a slightly robotic voice, the digital version of Xuanmo expresses, “I know you’re in great pain every day because of me, and feel guilty and helpless. Even though I can’t be by your side ever again, my soul is still in this world, accompanying you through life.”

Wu envisions building a fully realistic replica that behaves like his deceased son but exists within virtual reality. He believes that by synchronizing reality and the metaverse, he can have his son with him again and even train the avatar to recognize him as his father.

In China, the industry of creating digital replicas, commonly referred to as “ghost bots,” is experiencing rapid growth. AI firm Super Brain charges between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan ($1,400-$2,800) to develop a basic avatar in approximately 20 days. This technology enables individuals to interact with digital versions of their departed loved ones, marking a significant advancement in the eyes of industry insiders.

Sima Huapeng, the founder of Nanjing-based Silicon Intelligence, believes that this technology will “bring about a new kind of humanism.”