Chinese firm slammed for using ex-employee’s data to create ‘AI human’ to continue working
A Shandong game company built an AI avatar using a former HR specialist's data to handle tasks after his resignation.
A Chinese game company based in Shandong province has ignited a fierce ethical debate after reportedly using a former employee's personal and professional data to create an AI-powered 'digital human' that continues to perform his job. The employee, who worked as an HR specialist, resigned, but the company developed an AI avatar modeled on him to handle his former duties. According to a video shared online by a staff member named Xiaoyu, the digital worker introduces itself in a chat interface and is tasked with answering inquiries, scheduling appointments, and creating PowerPoint presentations and spreadsheets.
The company claims the digital replacement is operating with the consent of the person it replaces, placing it on a 'trial' basis. However, this has done little to quell the backlash from critics and online commentators. Many view the move as a severe violation of personal data rights and a dangerous precedent for the future of work, with some labeling it dystopian and a 'step towards the destruction of humanity.' The incident highlights the urgent, unresolved legal and ethical questions surrounding digital immortality, post-employment data usage, and the boundaries of AI replication in the workplace.
- A Shandong-based game company built an AI 'digital worker' avatar using a former HR employee's data after his resignation.
- The AI handles basic tasks like answering inquiries, scheduling, and creating presentations, effectively continuing the ex-employee's role.
- The move has sparked major controversy, with critics calling it a dangerous ethical breach and a 'step towards the destruction of humanity.'
Why It Matters
This case sets a alarming precedent for post-employment data rights and the ethical boundaries of creating AI replicas of workers.