Chinese Company Creates AI Copy of Former HR Employee to Replace Her
A game company in Shandong province used personal data from a former employee to build an AI-powered digital worker that continues performing her job after she resigned. The employee previously worked as a human resources specialist.
The AI avatar handles routine HR tasks: answering inquiries, scheduling appointments, and creating PowerPoint presentations and spreadsheets. A company staff member identified as Xiaoyu shared a video online showing the digital employee introducing itself in a chat window.
What This Means for HR Professionals
The case raises immediate questions about consent and data use in workforce automation. The company proceeded with the employee's consent, according to reports, but the decision has drawn criticism online.
For HR leaders, the incident illustrates both the capabilities and risks of AI in human resources functions. Basic administrative work-the tasks this digital worker performs-represents a significant portion of many HR departments' daily output.
Understanding how AI can augment or replace specific HR functions is becoming essential for professionals in the field. AI for Human Resources training can help HR teams evaluate these tools critically and plan workforce strategy accordingly.
HR executives overseeing broader organizational change should consider how AI automation affects talent management and workforce planning. An AI Learning Path for CHROs addresses these strategic implications directly.
The Broader Question
The case highlights a gap between technical capability and organizational practice. Creating a digital replica of an employee's work output is now feasible. Whether it should be standard practice remains contested.
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