Social media is awash with tears as a TikTok sensation’s heartfelt Christmas gift to his mom in memory of his dad tugs at everyone’s heartstrings.
Artificial intelligence (AI) often makes headlines for the wrong reasons—think voice cloning used by scammers or the discomfort of celebrities like Robin Williams’ daughter confronting unsettling AI recreations of her father’s voice. But sometimes, tech can be a force for good.
TikTok star Phillip Willett, aka @phillipwillett, shared how he grappled with the idea of using AI to replicate his late father’s voice, initially finding it “kind of weird.” Yet, driven by a desire to honor his dad and gift his mom something truly special, he ventured into the realm of AI after getting “chills” from experimenting with the technology.
In a moving video capturing his mom’s reaction, Phillip revealed his heartfelt tribute: a recreated message from his dad, who passed away from pancreatic cancer 1.5 years ago.
“It’s been so long since we’ve heard his voice…So I made her a video using an AI software to match his exact voice,” the caption reads, reflecting on the challenge of not having cherished voicemails or audio after losing a loved one.
Using ElevenLabs, an AI voice software, Phillip recreated his dad’s voice to convey a heartfelt message to his mom, acknowledging the void left by the absence of those precious recordings.
The emotional video features the AI-generated voice, mirroring his dad’s tone, expressing love, reassurance, and holiday wishes to his mom.
The heartrending clip struck a chord, leaving not just Phillip’s mom but audiences globally teary-eyed.
This touching gesture didn’t just move hearts—it went viral, garnering over five million views and a flood of emotional comments applauding the heartfelt tribute.
One user expressed, “I knew I was going to cry but I still stayed because I think your dad deserved to be known.”
Another added, “Ah yes. Another TikTok where I sob for people I’ve never met.”
Amidst the sea of emotions, Phillip confessed to the meticulous effort behind achieving the realistic voice replication, spending nearly 11 hours straight perfecting it.
Moved by the response, Phillip plans to create a tutorial on using the software, aiming to help others grappling with similar losses create their own touching tributes.
In his words, “It was definitely a tear-jerking process. But it turned out so special.” This heartwarming story reminds us of the power of technology when used to preserve precious memories and honor loved ones.
