A video featuring a conversation between a 24-year-old man named Wu and an AI version of his deceased grandmother has rapidly gained traction on social media platforms, according to SCMP.
Wu with the AI version of his grandmother
“Grandma, this year, Dad and I will come back home to celebrate the Lunar New Year with you. What did you talk about the last time Dad called?” Wu asks in the recording.
“I told your dad not to drink anymore. He needs to save money and not gamble,” the AI-generated grandmother replies.
“That’s right, you have to teach Dad. He’s over 50 but drinks every day and has no savings. The Lunar New Year is coming; have you bought anything yet?” the grandson continues.
“I bought two bottles of cooking oil. It’s fresh oil pressed by some farmers. It smells great, 75 yuan per bottle,” she answers.
In the video, the grandmother’s face appears attentive as if she is listening, and her lips move whenever there is a voice.
Wu shared that he had a very close relationship with his grandmother, who raised him after his parents divorced. His grandmother passed away in January this year due to Covid-19 at the age of 84.
When she fell ill, Wu returned to his hometown in southern China and worked as a visual art designer. He stayed by her bedside for 15 days but never had the chance to say goodbye as she remained in a coma until her passing.
Wu uses images and old conversation recordings to “bring back” his deceased grandmother.
Struggling to cope with the loss of his beloved grandmother, Wu came up with the idea to “bring her back” using AI technology.
He utilized software and old photographs to create an animated version of her. Then, Wu trained the AI to mimic her voice by using recordings of previous phone conversations between the two.
Wu also spent time chatting with ChatGPT to understand how to make the AI behave like his grandmother.
“I shared many details about my grandmother’s life with ChatGPT, hoping it could understand the family dynamics and her way of speaking so it could communicate with me in her tone,” Wu explained.
Currently, the “grandma” can only engage in simple conversations. When Wu attempts to have more complex discussions, the AI struggles to understand.
Wu noted that his project to “bring back Grandma” was primarily for psychological comfort. “But I feel happier seeing her and talking more,” he added.
The story has captured the attention of millions of Chinese internet users, generating a wide range of opinions.
“I stand with him. But I’m not sure I would do the same, it makes me sad,” one user expressed.
Another user commented, “It’s a way to cope with grief. What he is doing is meaningful. After all, companionship with AI is also a form of companionship.“
However, some voices argue that we should face reality, dealing with life and death. “That’s not a real grandmother. I think he should let her rest in peace and cherish the beautiful memories in his heart,” one commenter stated.
