Avatar replacement worker on trial with consent of person it replaces; critics of firm say move is a ‘step towards the destruction of humanity’
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenYating Yangin BeijingPublished: 2:00pm, 12 Apr 2026A Chinese company has sparked controversy after it reportedly used a former employee’s data to create an artificial intelligence (AI) human to continue working following his resignation.
A game company in Shandong province in northern China has attracted attention after turning a former employee into an AI-powered “digital worker” which continued performing tasks after their resignation.
The employee, whose personal details remain unclear, previously worked as an human resources (HR) specialist.
The avatar is responsible for handling basic tasks such as answering inquiries, scheduling appointments and creating PowerPoint presentations and spreadsheets.
According to a video shared online by a company staff member identified as Xiaoyu, the digital employee introduces itself in a chat window.
