Hong Kong Teen With Rare Disease Unveils AI Avatar to Preserve His Legacy
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A Hong Kong teenager with a rare muscle-wasting disease has created an AI version of himself, hoping the digital twin can continue sharing his life story and message of perseverance even after he is gone. Chen Tsz-kin, 17, unveiled "AI Tsz-kin" at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on Sunday, weeks before his 18th birthday – an age the student said he had long feared reaching because he was once told it was the average life expectancy for people with his disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
"Life may come to an end, but through different means, AI can allow [my message] to continue," he said. "Even if one day I am no longer here, I just hope people remember the spirit behind it."
Key Points
- Chen Tsz-kin was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy when he was just 1½ years old
- He now uses a wheelchair, wears a back brace, and relies on a breathing machine at night
- Despite his condition, he has completed adventures including the Kyrgyz highlands, a 100km desert expedition, paragliding and diving
- The AI avatar project began 18 months ago with Hong Kong-listed Digital Domain, capturing about 400 images and six weeks of voice recordings
- His health deteriorated over the past year with two pneumonia episodes, the second leaving him frightened about surviving
Why It Matters
This project represents an emerging use of AI technology for personal legacy preservation in Hong Kong, raising questions about how digital immortality can support those facing terminal diagnoses. The initiative also highlights the resilience of young people with rare diseases and the potential for technology to extend their impact beyond physical limitations .
This project represents an emerging use of AI technology for personal legacy preservation in Hong Kong, raising questions about how digital immortality can support those facing terminal diagnoses. The initiative also highlights the resilience of young people with rare diseases and the potential for technology to extend their impact beyond physical limitations .