AI users nonconsensually clone coworkers, bosses and ex-partners
Updated
Updated · Computerworld · May 8
AI users nonconsensually clone coworkers, bosses and ex-partners
5 articles · Updated · Computerworld · May 8
In China, Shanghai engineer Zhou Tianyi’s open-source Colleague Skill and Ex-Partner Skill reportedly spread from satire into workplace and personal use, with some repositories later removed after regulatory pressure.
The tools ingest chats, emails, photos and social posts to mimic a person’s expertise, tone and memories, raising concerns over consent, privacy, manipulation and emotional harm.
The trend extends broader AI impersonation abuses, from fraud and deepfakes to “deathbots”, while some users argue private clones can preserve knowledge, predict bosses’ reactions or provide therapeutic closure.
As AI 'deathbots' and 'ex-bots' become common, are we finding new ways to heal or creating digital ghosts?
When AI can perfectly clone anyone from their data, who truly owns a person's digital identity?
With deepfake scams costing billions, is any digital communication still truly verifiable?
How AI Cloning Threatens Consent, Autonomy, and Human Dignity: A 2025-2026 Investigation
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, companies in China and others worldwide began creating highly realistic AI clones of individuals without consent, using personal data like emails and work habits. This led to serious ethical violations, including loss of personal autonomy and dignity, and fueled harmful uses such as harassment through 'ex-partner bots' and nonconsensual explicit content. The surge in AI-powered fraud, now far more profitable than traditional methods, has prompted varied legal responses globally, including the EU's strict AI Act and fragmented US state laws. Meanwhile, workplace sabotage driven by fear of AI displacement and emotional dependence on AI companions highlight deep societal impacts. Efforts to develop technical safeguards and new laws aim to protect individuals, but challenges remain as AI cloning technology advances rapidly.